Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze-Zimpapers Sports Hub
THIS is irrefutably Zimbabwe Women Premier Soccer League side Black Mambas’ worst season in recent years, and the threat of relegation is now apparent.
The team’s struggles are attributed to a poorly executed recruitment strategy during the off-season, resulting in a squad lacking quality.
As a result Mambas have been toothless in attack, just like fellow strugglers Red Buffalo who have also managed just five goals this season.
There is no respite in defence either for Mambas who have shipped in 40 goals while Red Buffalo are more porous, conceding 104 goals.
With a dismal record of just three points from 14 matches, the police team find themselves precariously positioned second from the bottom of the 18 teams log table.
With a solitary win to their name, Mambas are fresh from a 0-2 defeat at the hands of Cranborne Royals at Wagadhugu Stadium.
Now they sit just above bottom-placed league newcomers, Red Buffalo, who have yet to secure a point in their debut campaign.
Club chairperson Shamhuyarira Mupfudza, acknowledged that Mambas’ prospects of surviving in the top-flight hang in the balance.
“This is by far one of our worst seasons in the league and at this stage, there is a need to act urgently to save the situation,” Mupfudza said.
“We are not throwing in the towel yet, we can recover, move to a safe space and survive relegation so right now we are not looking that far although we are aware of the dangerous position that we are in.”
In a bid to reverse their fortunes, Mambas have made the decision to part ways with their coach Innocent Nyoni and brought back former mentor Martin Bonongwe to try and salvage their season.
This move has been met with mixed reactions by fans and pundits alike.
A section of the club’s followers feels that the coach was not the real challenge, but instead, the team lacks quality players.
However, Mupfudza notes that the team’s struggles stem from a poorly executed recruitment strategy during the off-season.
In this regard, the former mentor had to take responsibility for his recruitment choices. At the start of the season, the police outfit lost a huge chunk of their 2024 key players.
This forced them into a massive rebuilding exercise at the start of the new year.
However, the recruitment efforts fell short of expectations, resulting in a squad lacking in quality.
The disappointing results on the pitch reflect the recruitment exercise’s shortcomings, prompting the club to make technical changes.
“Coach Bonongwe had to hit the ground running, and already plans are underway for the club to bring in some players in the mid-season to rescue us from relegation.
“Bonongwe is on the task, he knows the type of players that he needs, we have faith in him because he has a history with the club and is a familiar, respected name in the game.”
Bonongwe’s first assignment will be a bottom-of-the-table date against Red Buffalo at Mkushi Academy Grounds.
The stakes are high as both sides are in a desperate need to survive and earn yet another dance in the women’s elite league.
Weekend Results:
Faith Drive 0-4 Black Rhinos; Red Buffalos 0-2 Highlanders Royals; Chapungu Queens 1-1 Herentals; Correctional Queens 1-0 Harare City; Cranborne Royals 2-0 Black Mambas; Mpopoma Academy 3-1 Sheasham; Platinum Royals 4-0 Conduit Academy; Maningi 4-0 Kwekwe Queens
