Online Reporter
Yemurai Dyakonda
ALL eyes have been on the intense battle for honours in the Northern Region Soccer League championship.
It features N’ombeyawora, Agama, Golden Eagles and Black Rhinos.
However, there is also an intense battle for survival.
Three teams must fall from the NRSL at the end of the 2025 season.
And the identity of the relegation candidates is far from being decided.
About eight teams are involved in the battle for survival.
From 11th-placed Trojan Stars, who have 27 points, down to bottom-placed MWOS U19 on 19 points, it is really crunch time in the league.
Just eight points separate the teams and none of the sides in that zone can afford to declare safety.
Under league’s rules, the bottom three clubs will be relegated directly, while the team finishing 17th must endure a tense play-off round to secure survival.
Chinhoyi Stars FC (26 points), Chinhoyi Rangers (25), FC Oden (25), and PAM FC (25) all find themselves hovering dangerously above the drop zone.
Chegutu Pirates (24) and Ngezi U19 (22) are also in trouble.
Newboys like Ali Sundowns are also in the relegation mix.
The colourful Mabvuku outfit sit on 21 points, three ahead of seasoned campaigners Shamva Mine (19).
Ngezi U19, who occupy the play-off spot, believe they need to show more resilience in their quest for survival.
“We take it as a way of conditioning their mental strength,’’ said Ngezi U19 coach Klifton Kadurira.
“We tell them that’s the reality of football. It is a pressure sport. Whether you’re winning or losing, pressure is always there.
“So, the youngsters have to fight to move away from there. Only they can take us from there.”
Ali Sundowns chairman, Fungai Chirwa, also struck a defiant tone despite their current struggles.
“Surely, we are in a tight spot. We tell our players not to put themselves under pressure because we have played these teams in the first round so nothing is new.
“We can survive relegation and be a force to reckon with next season. Looking back, from the games we played we were the better team, but Division 1 games are won by scoring.
“That’s our main weakness. We are not scoring but playing good football.”
