dyton mupawaenda
Veronica Gwaze
REIGNING Castle Lager Premiership football champions Ngezi Platinum Stars’ goalkeeper Nelson Chadya has called on his team-mates to take responsibility in scoring goals when they face leaders Highlanders at Baobab this weekend if they are entertaining any hopes of breaking last season’s jinx.
The Bulawayo giants, last season, overpowered Ngezi in back-to-back fixtures that both ended 1-0.
Ngezi Platinum are yet to find their feet in this Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign, winning one out of the first five games of the season, and hope to change that narrative.
This season, Ngezi have scored twice and conceded four times while their opponents have scored nine goals and let in only two.
With Bosso currently enjoying fine form, Chadya said his team should start showing more hunger in front of goal.
“As a senior player, you feel the pressure during such times and wish you could carry the team on your shoulders.
“Unfortunately, football is a team sport and everyone has a role to play,” he said.
“From my observation, we are a good team and our play is almost perfect, save that we lack the confidence to score.
“At this stage, we should make it everyone’s responsibility to find the net,” he said.
Since 2016, when Ngezi were promoted to top-flight, the two sides have met 12 times.
The reigning champions won three times and lost five times while the other four fixtures ended in draws.
Chadya, being one of the senior players at Ngezi, admitted that Highlanders are strong opponents who boast of a solid defence.
He said it will not be easy to penetrate their backline hence the team needs to capitalise on every chance that they create.
“We usually create chances and fail to convert so, this time, we need to be more clinical in front of goal,” said Chadya.
“Strikers are there but at this stage, we need not give them too much pressure and will have to attack and defend as a team.”
The shot-stopper opines that scoring goals will give Ngezi the confidence they need going forward.
He also called on their fans to rally behind the team in their quest to start collecting maximum points.
“To the fans, we are playing at home, they will be able to watch us, so we need their support and also promise to do our best for them.” Meanwhile, Highlanders midfielder Mason Mushore is hoping that the Bulawayo giants maintain their fine form to retain their position at the top of the log standings.
He refused to read much into their last season’s dominance over the champions.
“This is an important game for us so we do not want to look at past games because that may open doors for complacency,” said Mushore
“If we dwell much on that match, it will deceive us. Ngezi are not a small team, their current form may change at any time, every team gets to that stage at some point, so we should not underrate them.
“It is a matter of confidence and concentration if we want to win this one because they have what it takes to match us pound for pound on the pitch.”
Online Reporter