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Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
NGEZI PLATINUM Stars coach Takesure Chiragwi reckons that it is just a matter of time before his charges start doing the right things and get off the mark.
The defending league champions have dropped five points in their opening two games.
They encountered a hump in their opening fixture against new boys Arenel Movers who held them to a goalless draw at Luveve.
They followed that up with another disappointing result, suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of platinum rivals FC Platinum at Baobab on Saturday.
That means they trail early log leaders FC Platinum by five points with only two rounds of matches played.
But the Mhondoro miners are used to slow starts just like what was the case last season when they drew their first four games in succession before picking the pieces and eventually landing the title.
Chiragwi feels that as much as all departments need some polishing, it is in the final third that they should put more effort.
“We are getting into those key scoring positions. We are getting in the crosses and the passes into the right spaces.
“It shows that we are doing a quality job.
“The players are trying their best it’s only that luck hasn’t been on our side. But I am impressed with the way we are playing. What is key at the end of the day is the performance.
“Are we performing well? We are. Are we creating good chances? We are. “That’s what is important. If we were not creating chances and not playing well, we were going to get worried,” said Chiragwi.
“It’s just a matter of time before we get that ball behind the net and we will be off the mark.
“We are working on those margins. We have to perfect our finishing because that is where we are lacking.
“But generally, we are doing it the way we are supposed to be doing it just that we are finding it a bit difficult to score. It’s an area that we can easily work on and we get into track.”
Meanwhile, Chiragwi’s assistant Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva, who was recruited from Herentals where he was the head coach for over six years says he is adapting to life at Ngezi Platinum.
The highly-rated tactician, who was courted by the ambitious club for two months before inking a deal three weeks ago, said he was excited about the new challenge.
“Ngezi Platinum Stars is a big team and the people here are very friendly making my integration into the set-up very seamless,” he said.
“I have always been good friends with most of the guys in the technical team including coach Takesure (Chiragwi).
“Even when Ngezi Platinum Stars were talking to me, Chiragwi was always a key factor in the negotiations, and that made it easy for me to join the team.
“I like the challenge. That is exactly the reason why I came here. I needed new challenges. When this offer came, I talked to my bosses at Herentals and they gave it their blessing.”
Mutiwekuziva, who made his name after finishing sixth in Herentals’ first Premiership season without adding any new names in the squad that did duty for him in the first division, will be expected to work hand in hand with Chiragwi to strengthen Madamburo.
Ngezi Platinum Stars will be battling on both the local and international fronts this season.
While they will attempt to retain the title, they will as well be representing the country in the CAF Champions League and the expertise of both Chiragwi and Mutiwekuziva will be put to test.
Online Reporter