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Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
NGEZI PLATINUM coach Takesure Chiragwi has come up with a formula that brings the best out of captain Qadr Amini and Takunda Benhura in their quest for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title.
They are within two points of leaders Highlanders after 20 games and are favourites to capitalise on any slip-up by Highlanders, whose unbeaten start to the season ended at FC Platinum on Saturday.
Chiragwi is turning out to be a tactician of note and is being rewarded for a rotation system and formation that has made them one of the few consistent teams in the Premiership so far.
For years, Amini was looking a little bit off the boil and he was not even at his best in the initial stages of the current campaign.
A league title winner with Gunners in 2009, Amini has mostly been used as an impact replacement and he has hardly disappointed.
He has also been given an even more advanced role in the 3-5-2 formation that Chiragwi has deployed to good effect, becoming an important source of goals in the process.
Amini has scored seven goals for Ngezi Platinum this campaign, not far from leading scorers Fortune Binzi and Obriel Chirinda.
At 31 and the oldest player in the team, Amini is probably benefiting more from the economic approach that allows players time to recover while on the side-lines.
“I am really happy with how I have carried myself this season,” Amini said.
“The main goal has always been to lead my team to glory and so far so good.
“The goals are coming and I am very happy. Mostly, I am deployed in midfield and that allows me to roam upfront and get the goals.
“I am super happy with my contribution to the team this term. I should as well give it to coach Takesure Chiragwi for giving me room to venture forward. It’s working quite well for me and the team.
“I have also notched in a couple of assists and that’s good for the team. We have our own targets as a team and that can be achieved through consistency in the manner in which we are playing.
“We are well within our goals and we can only put in more work”.
For forward Benhura, the rotation is even more beneficial.
He started the season like a house on fire, scoring for fun but along the way, he retreated into his shell.
He was barely noticeable between match day 12 and match day 16.
But once Chiragwi decided to rest him for a couple of games, the 22-year-old has been revitalised and he is back to his best.
The Ngezi Platinum Stars development team graduate is already on six goals and is also one of the top assist providers in the league with seven to his name.
Benhura was unplayable in Ngezi Platinum Stars’ 3-0 mauling of Triangle last weekend scoring once and dishing two assists for Amini and Bruno Mtigo.
“I am excited with how I have played this season,” Benhura said.
“I am aiming higher and higher. The goals should keep on coming and those assists as well.
“I am indebted to coach Chiragwi who has improved my overall game. I understand what’s needed in any of the formations that we play.
“We have to keep pushing as a team if we are to attain our team goals”.
Chiragwi, who has remained grounded despite being in charge of a team playing perhaps the most entertaining football in the league, said he has had to rotate his players because most of them are still young.
“We have a young squad and we can’t throw each of the players in every match. To get the best out of all of them, we need to allow them time to recover and develop the hunger again,” said Chiragwi.
“I am happy with how each of them have performed so far this season.
“The senior guys are really helping the youngsters and the latter are also improving quite impressively.
“It’s a process and I am happy with how it has unfolded”
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter