Flame Lily in tricky tie

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
PACESETTERS Flame Lily will have their title credentials tested today when they host Commando at Chikurubi in a World Navi Northern Region Division One soccer league.

The prison officers will face the army side as the league resumes after taking a break over the weekend to pave way for the Yadah TV Knock-out Cup.

Flame Lily are one point ahead of Gunners and coach, Nesbert “Yabo” Saruchera, said they were ready for the test.

“We have just started training today, we are very ready for them. The break was an advantage to us as our guys who had minor knock-outs are back now,” said Saruchera.

“Everybody is ready. As I always say football is a pressure game, there is always pressure but we need to be ready for the game and we are ready.”

The Flame Lily coach said they will be out in full force to win the game because any slip-up may be costly.

“We lost 2-1 away and we are at home, so we need to turn the tables but it’s not going to be easy.

“We are just playing for maximum points,” said Saruchera.

Commando have warned the prison officers not to expect any favours from them as they also have their own target to meet.

Team manager, John Mandaza, said there have been a lot of conspiracy theories concerning this match but they will not be moved by that.

“For the past two weeks we have not won a match, we lost, so we are preparing for this match to get maximum points.

“People are talking too much saying as uniformed forces teams we are just going to donate points so that they get promoted into the Premier league but to us that’s not it.

“This is football, we should not play such type of football.

“Our coaches and players also need those three points to finish in the top four and already they have lost two games in the past two weeks.

“So, for us, we are going for three points, there won’t be any favours. We need to win this game.

“There were same stories before our game against Gunners and we went on to beat them 2-1. The players are going to play to market themselves,” said Mandaza.

Commando are currently sixth on the table.