Online Reporter
Curtworth Masango
Zimpapers Sports Hub
VETERAN coach Tavaka Gumbo is still very involved in the domestic football trenches and was last weekend left a happy man.
This was after his side PAM shot to the top of the MCM Estates Northern Region Soccer League log table following a convincing 3-1 win over army side Cranborne Bullets.
While the result may have surprised some people given that Bullets are no pushovers, Gumbo claims he had seen it coming on the back of the hard shift his PAM charges have been putting at training.
PAM now have nine points from four matches, a strong start that has Gumbo purring.
Gumbo, also added that the results his team are posting are not a fluke.
“I arrived last year during the season. It was a difficult task to survive relegation,” Gumbo said.
“It was then we set our major objective this season, to survive relegation. We saw how we struggled last year and we don’t want that.
“To avoid that, we were aiming for a strong start, and it is happening,’’ Gumbo said.
Since the dreadlocked coach’s arrival, he has implemented changes, particularly bringing in young talent, who he says guarantee sustainability.
“Modern football requires a lot of running.
“With a team of more senior players, you will find the going difficult. So, I decided to assemble a team with an average age of 23 years and keep just three senior players to guide the youngsters.”
Tomorrow, PAM will travel to Harare at Gwanzura to face newboys Highrange, who have started the season slowly.
Gumbo said he aims to compound their problems.
“It’s an away match and you have to be cautious, but we are going to play and fight for maximum points.”
A former Zimbabwe international midfielder, who also starred for Shu-Shine and Hwange, Gumbo has also coached some Premiership and Division One clubs in his post-playing career.
Despite shooting to the summit, Gumbo also, warned that PAM cannot afford to drop points against Highrange, as rivals – Harare City, Chingwere and Ngezi U-19 — are breathing down heavily on them and are each just one point behind on eight.
“At the moment we need as many points as possible such that we move in a safe position.
“As I said, we are not yet targeting the title, we want to get safety first. Anything beyond that is a bonus,” he said.
Black Rhinos also stemmed a two-match winless run to edge Shamva Mine 1-0 at Commando Barracks to within touching distance of the early pacesetters.
Rhinos had drawn and lost their last two games before bouncing back against the gold miners in a match in which both teams finished with 10 men.
Fixtures:
Tomorrow:
Harare City vs Karoi (Callies Sports Club), Marere vs G&T Mining (Rimuka Stadium), Cranborne Bullets vs Cranborne Bullets (Commando Barracks)
Saturday:
FC Oden vs Golden Eagles (Chinhoyi), MWOS U-19 vs Black Mambas (Ngoni), Zambezi G&C vs Black Rhinos (Centenary Sports Club), Jumbo Giants vs Rangers (Jumbo), Shamva Mine vs Chingwere (Shamva Mine), Chegutu Pirates vs CP Chemicals (Pfupajena)
Sunday:
Banket vs Batanai (Kuwadzana)
