Bikita won’t sink: Jani

Veronica Gwaze

WHEN Bikita Minerals finally took their delayed Castle Lager Premier Soccer League bow, there were huge expectations, especially among their fans in Masvingo, that they were in the top-flight to stay.

A stunning 1-0 victory over CAPS United at Rufaro Stadium, of all the venues, in their maiden Premiership win on March 28, was the kind of stuff that dreams are made of.

But something has gone awfully wrong at the Lithium Boys, and the massive player exodus during the mid-season transfer window, just weeks after coach Saul Chaminuka had dumped them for Green Fuel, was telling.

Although they are 13th on the log and two places above the drop zone, the reality is that they are in danger of relegation.

This is because, with 30 points from 27 games, they are just a point above the team occupying the last relegation slot — Green Fuel, ironically under their ex-coach Chaminuka.

Despite their tumble from the top eight to the lower rungs, coach Arnold Jani is adamant Bikita will not sink. Jani, who fought several relegation battles for Mhangura and Shabanie Mine in his playing days, is alive to the fact that demotion is a huge possibility and he dreads it.

The Lithium Boys were handed their biggest defeat of the season when fellow strugglers TelOne hammered them 6-1 at Ascot Stadium in a Match-Day 27 midweek fixture on Wednesday.

That massive defeat, according to Jani, compounded their woes.

“This is a difficult situation that we find ourselves in and I have been telling the boys that we cannot keep dropping points at this stage, one or two wins is all we need to reignite life in our camp,” he said.

Bikita also face a tough run of fixtures as the season nears the end.

A date against Manica Diamonds at Sakubva Stadium this afternoon will not be easy.

They will also face basement side Chegutu Pirates, reigning champions Ngezi Platinum Stars, Green Fuel, Highlanders, Chicken Inn and Hwange, in that order.

“We know every single point is crucial for us right now; one win could be the start of an unbeaten run,” said Jani.

“Our biggest challenge is that we have not been scoring goals despite playing a good game, so this is the challenge that we are trying to address right now.”

While Bikita have found the net 20 times so far, 18 of the goals are from the first half of the season, when they still had experienced forwards Evans Katema and Allan Gahadzikwa on their books.

Jani bemoaned the departure of some of his key players, including the two strikers, during the mid-season transfer window.

He feels had Chaminuka’s famous “four-plate stove” remained intact, the Lithium Boys would not have been in their current predicament.

The famed “four-plate stove’’ comprised Masimba Mambare, Carlton Munzabwa, Gahadzikwa and Katema, a quartet that Jani describes as the glue that held the team together.

Owing to lucrative deals elsewhere, Gahadzikwa and Katema left, along with other key players.

“When some of our boys left in mid-season, our team was
disoriented and to figure ourselves out felt like starting all over again.

“I was hurt to see them leave; even the departure of coach Chaminuka emotionally affected me because he is someone whom I looked up to, but I had to understand that they have families to feed.”

“Although it proved to be a long, difficult and costly process, I am still happy with the effort and commitment that the boys are putting into it.”

Jani admits that he is under pressure from his paymasters, who are demanding results.

“Under these circumstances, we are both in a tricky situation because they have a brand to protect and I also have a reputation and a job to protect as well,” he said.

“What is important now is for us to be able to handle the pressure that comes with fighting to survive the chop.

“How we manage pressure in the big fixtures like Manica, Ngezi, Highlanders, Chicken Inn will make or break us, so we need to bring our A game.

“Deep down, I am hopeful that even without motivation, we will survive if we play our cards right.

“This week, it will be a derby for us, we have to take advantage of being at home in front of our fans and bag some points.”