adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
CARGO Carriers coach Tendai Chapfika says they will be cautious when they lock horns with relegation fighters Seven Flames tomorrow in a Northern Region Division One soccer league tie at Commando. Cargo Carriers, who are making their debut appearance in the First Division have made their presence felt in the league and are currently sixth on the log table.
Chapfika said they have now settled in the league having started on a slow pace at the beginning of the season and added that the coming in of strikers Gladman Chafamba and Misheck Mburayi as well as midfielder Kennedy Kanyama and goalkeeper Elisha Nechiturike has added value to the team.
“I think in the early days my players were still afraid, they didn’t believe they could stand the heat in Division One because most of the guys I had were from Division Two. But now with time they are settling plus we brought in some new players. “I think if you look at Misheck he has played five games and scored three goals.
He has brought some good competition to our strikers and he also brought depth to our strike force.
“My target is to finish on top eight since it is our first year in Division One. This year was a learning curve for us and we have improved in terms of football and psychologically. We have learnt a lot this season and I hope by the end of season we would have learnt more and next year we will be talking of maybe the top four or so,” said Chapfika.
Seven Flames are fighting relegation as they are currently third from the bottom of the log table and they have been struggling to get results but Chapfika is not reading much into that.
“So far so good but Seven Flames have been there before, regardless of their position on the log they are the favourites and we are coming in as the underdogs. But we have a good record away from home because if you look at it we got most of our results away and at home we have so many draws.
“We will play with a lot of caution, you never know with football every game is a new game. The position they are (occupying) is a motivation itself because they are fighting for survival but we are ready for them,” said Chapfika.
Meanwhile, Bigboy Mawiwi, who grabbed his first win at DStv Rangers in their previous encounter against Blue Jets said they are now building a team for next year. DStv Rangers are fifth on the log table with 33 points. This was Mawiwi’s second game after taking over from Newton Chitewe and he said with Ngezi on 54 points and unbeaten in 22 matches it’s difficult to challenge for the championship now. “It’s a very good bunch of players, they are young, energetic and we also have experienced players so we have a team.
But we have to be serious and we will take each and every game as it comes so that we build a team for next year.
“We have to be realistic, it’s not (championship title) reachable honestly when Ngezi are unbeaten after 22 games. DStv will be on the road this weekend for their tie against Darwin.
Meanwhile, August’s top goal scorer award goes to ZRP Morris’s Jimy Jimu and Lee Munyorove of Starbill. The two emerged the top goal scorers with four goals each and they will share the US$250 for the month. The award is sponsored Supreme Panel Beaters.
Online Reporter