daniel chigunwe
Grace Chingoma
Senior Sports Reporter
CRANBORNE Bullets are bullish they will win their first match of the season this afternoon when they face Simba Bhora at the National Sports Stadium.
The army side has started poorly this season, losing five times and playing two draws.
They had goalless draws against Chicken Inn and Dynamos. The team lost to fellow army side Black Rhinos 1-0 in their season opener before going down by similar margins to champions FC Platinum, Yadah, and Hwange.
The Harare side is struggling in their debut season in the topflight league and are yet to collect maximum points in five outings. They only managed to score their first goal of the season in last weekend’s 2-1 defeat against Sheasham at Mandava.
Cranborne Bullet’s skipper Tadiwa Chibunyu scored the team’s first goal of the season last weekend when he equalised after the hosts had taken a 10th minute lead through Physwell Madhizi. Sheasham then restored their lead in the second half via Macdonald Mavuto.
Yesterday their gaffer Nesbert “Yabo” Saruchera said it’s high time they end the goal drought and start winning matches.
Saruchera said although his team had been playing well, scoring had been their Achilles heel.
“We have been playing very well but failing to score. But tomorrow I am optimistic that we can get one or two goals.
“Our performance in the previous games was good but we are lacking finishing touches to score goals,” said Saruchera.
The coach believes the technical team had rectified the grey area at training and the players should start to deliver.
“It is our duty to talk to the players, to motivate them so that they remain positive. We have been encouraging them and urging them to continue fighting,” he said.
Turning to their opponents, Saruchera said they will not focus on them, but will fight for their own survival.
“Simba Bhora are new to the Premiership but have a lot of experienced players and we respect them. But I will not surrender the three points on a silver platter. We want to collect our first set of three points tomorrow,” said Saruchera.
It will not be that easy for the army side. The Shamva outfit Simba Bhora have picked up four points in their last three games and are desperate to get their campaign on track. Last week they lost 0-1 to GreenFuel at the National Sports Stadium. It was the first victory for the Chisumbanje side. Before that, Simba had drawn 1-1 with Sheasham at Mandava. They had managed two consecutive wins against Hwange and Yadah.
Tonderai Ndiraya’s troops lost their opening two matches before picking their first point against Dynamos.
Fixtures:
Today: Simba Bhora v Cranborne Bullets (National Sports Stadium).
Tomorrow: Green Fuel v ZPC Kariba (Gibbo), FC Platinum v Manica Diamonds (Mandava), Chicken Inn v Herentals (Luveve), Yadah v CAPS United (National Sports Stadium).
Sunday: Dynamos v Triangle (National Sports Stadium), Sheasham v Highlanders (Bata), Hwange v Bulawayo Chiefs (Colliery).
Wednesday: Black Rhinos v Ngezi Platinum (National Sports Stadium).
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