adminTadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
NGEZI Platinum Stars might be enjoying an explosive start to the Castle Lager Premiership football season, after winning all their five opening matches without conceding a goal, but captain Liberty Chakoroma has warned his teammates not to get carried away.
The Mhondoro club have grabbed most of the early season attention after their best start to the season which has seen them topping the charts on 15 points from five games.
They have already beaten some of the title favourites in Dynamos and Chicken Inn to prove their quality but Chakoroma knows there is still a long way to go.
Chakoroma says the team should not be flattered by what they have done so far but they should concentrate on being consistent throughout the season.
The lanky utility has now been drawn back into central defence from his usual defensive link role and says he is comfortable playing there as he has played on that position before.
Ngezi Platinum take on Shabanie Mine at Maglas in their next league fixture.
“If you win games consistently, one thing is certain, you will put yourselves under immense pressure,’’ he said.
“Every team which we face will technically be the underdogs and they won’t have any pressure whatsoever.
“Instead it is us who will be under pressure as we would be pre-occupied by the form that we have shown. It’s an extremely difficult situation to be leading the pack at this stage of the season.
“But then who do we want to be on top when we have made it no secret that we want to win the league? We will have to do whatever it takes to keep the position.’’ Chokoroma concedes that they have become the team to beat.
“However, our form has also drawn a lot of attention and our players have also attracted a lot of interests from the mainstream media,’’ he said.
“That situation needs proper and professional handling. We should not get carried away and lose focus just because we are two points above the second-placed team.
“It is a very long way to go and a lot can happen. In the previous seasons, we have seen some teams who led all the way up to Week 20 but could not make it to the podium.
“We are not special and we should respect every team which we face and concentrate on the business of the day. We should stay grounded and try to improve, we need to collect points consistently and see what happens.
“As for my shifting from the anchor-man’s role to central defence, I don’t think it’s a challenge. I have always shown that I am a defensive-minded player over the years.
“Actually I used to play on that position when I was still at Buffaloes. I remember forming a formidable pairing with Themba Ndlovu (now with Mutare City). So I am at home in that position as I am in the defensive link.’’
Chakoroma said it is too early to say which teams will eventually fight for the top gong but reckons Chicken Inn, CAPS United and FC Platinum are likely to give his men a big challenge.
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