adminCurtworth Masango
Sports Reporter
BLACK Rhinos are set to battle without the services of their two key players Malvern Mudzuka and Everson Feremba when they host title rivals, Scottland, in a potentially explosive Northern Region Soccer League match at the Heart Stadium tomorrow.
Mudzuka and Feremba allegedly started training with MWOS last week before being cleared and Black Rhinos insist they still belong to the army side.
The players want out of Black Rhinos and sought assistance from the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe to have their contracts terminated to facilitate the mid-season transfer to MWOS.
They are believed to have even put pen to paper, hoping to start playing for their “new” club this weekend.
However, Black Rhinos argue that FUZ failed to send the correct notification of the termination of contracts and insist they still own the players.
Meanwhile, the Black Rhinos trio of Tatenda Mchisa, Kuda Nyakudanga, and Valentine Katsande are optimistic ahead of their encounter with Scottland.
Rhinos crumbled 0-2 in the reverse fixture at Rufaro and will be out to fight for the remaining set of three points.
The army side are currently on top of the NRSL log standings with 41 points and are closely followed by MWOOS, Harare City, and Scottland.
Rhinos will be looking to extend their reign at the top of the log standings as the marathon for the championships resumes.
During the mid-season window, Black Rhinos roped in the services of Tapiwa Tasiyana and Weslea Takunda Makuviri from Karoi United, Willard Zakeo and Ben Ndembe from Banket United, Tendai Mutandi from Zambezi G&C and Blessed Mbavarira from Chapungu.
Club captain Tatenda Mchisa said they are prepared to collect maximum points and believe they have rectified their mistakes.
“We are prepared to go and play to win the game. We are going to play our normal game and we are going to enjoy it.
“We lost the first leg encounter but it is a different ball game now. We have taken our time to rectify the mistakes that we made in the first encounter.
“Our focus is to start winning again and maintain our pole position such that we are crowned champions come end of the season.
Buoyant midfielder Kuda Nyakudanga said the club will try to capitalise on their well-established combinations to upset their opponent.
“We are greatly aware of the danger they (Scottland) pose and we recently lost to them. But now it is a different setting, and we are the home team and we won’t allow ourselves to lapse at the last minute as we did in the last game.
“We are going to put all of our lives right to the end because we know that such games will be important in deciding how we will fare in the marathon.
Defender Katsande said their squad is responding well to coach, Nesbert Saruchera’s tactics and they will be banking on that.
“The team has improved a lot; we have been working hard in training under the close eye of our coaches.
“We have created a strong bond amongst ourselves and I think that’s the biggest aspect that has helped us to improve as a team.
“Based on that we are hoping for a strong, successful second half of the season.”
Online Reporter