admin
Petros Kausiyo
DESPITE having been dealt a blow when coach Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa dumped them for Premiership returnees TelOne, Harare City have found a way to survive and retain pole position on the Northern Region Soccer League log table.
It is now two games since Maruwa left Harare City, with the coach departing on the eve of their top-of-the-table clash against second-placed MWOS.
The Sunshine Boys, now under the guidance of Newsome Mutema, kept their unbeaten start to the season intact when drawing 0-0 with MWOS.
Mutasa had warned his MWOS charges and other Harare City opponents against reading too much into Maruwa’s departure.
“We should not be reading much into Maruwa’s departure because we will be facing the same players,” Mutasa said.
Despite their financial struggles, Harare City have now gone nine match-days without a loss, winning seven of them to take their points tally to 23.
They have also done well to avoid defeat against two of their nearest rivals MWOS and Black Rhinos with whom they drew.
On Wednesday they edged Ngezi Under-19, 1-0 via Tafadzwa Marira’s second-half header at Motor Action Sports Club to maintain some breathing space at the top.
With Black Rhinos having beaten fellow army side DZ Royals 2-0 on Monday and MWOS also winning 2-0 away over Chinhoyi Stars, Harare City knew they could not afford any slip-up against Ngezi Under-19.
It was also a key confidence-boosting win for Mutema, who has previously seen duty at Premier League side ZPC Kariba.
“It is something huge for me because every coach wants to win particularly when you are starting your tenure.
“It’s also good that we continue grinding results, maintaining our unbeaten run. It gives us the energy to continue fighting and preserve our status,” Mutema said.
Flamboyant Scottland were restricted to a 0-0 draw by fellow newboys AGAMA at Pfura in Mt Darwin.
Two of Scotland’s three defeats have come against lowly sides Pam FC and Karoi United, suggesting an element of complacency on their part and the impact of their talisman Denver Mukamba who has been battling a hamstring injury.
There are no such fears of complacency in the Rhinos camp since they found their footing. Resurgent Rhinos will, however, be absent from this weekend’s Match-Day 10 programme but the army side did themselves a power of good earlier in the week to stay within touching distance of the chasing pack. Kuda Nyakudanga and Everson Feremba found the target for the Rhinos, who have not made secret their ambitions for a quick return to the Premiership.
Nesbert Saruchera’s men had to play their Match-Day Nine fixture on a Monday because they provide 15 members to the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Select side, which left the country on Wednesday for Gaborone to play their Botswana counterparts.
Rhinos are third with 20 points, the same as MWOS who are second courtesy of superior goal difference.
The soldiers have found their rhythm after losing their opening game and drawing their second and Saruchera attributes that to hard work, unity in their camp, and determination.
“We believe in ourselves, we know we have quality we work very hard in training and we believe in playing the way we train,” Saruchera said.
“We will push the players to keep on working hard so that we can celebrate in November.
“We are also very grateful to the executive and army in general they are very supportive. But believe me we have a team, which can compete.
“As the Rhinos family we are only worried about collecting three points from each game and the position on the log for me no big issue,” Saruchera said.
Results:
Wednesday: Cranborne Bullets 1-0 PAM FC; Harare City 1-0 Ngezi; Chinhoyi Stars 0-2 MWOS; Trojan Stars 2-Norton Community; Colee Mhangura 0-0 Golden Eagles; AGAMA 0-0 Scottland
Yesterday: Herentals U20 2-0 Zambezi
Online Reporter