Hwange comes to Sakubva

Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premiership action resumes this weekend with troublesome coalminers, Hwange making the long trip to Mutare for a date against relegation candidates, Buffaloes FC at Sakubva Stadium on Sunday.

While the Mutare army outfit will be battling it out without coach, Saul Chaminuka, who will be away in Maseru, Lesotho on national duty with the Warriors, fellow Manicaland-based team, Dongo Sawmills will also be entertaining ZPC Kariba on the same day at Vengere Stadium in Rusape.

The two Manicaland teams – Buffaloes and Dongo Sawmills – are in real danger of being relegated from the top-flight league with the latter now hanging by a thread at the basement of the table.

Interestingly, Hwange has never been an easy side to beat while playing at Sakubva Stadium and it remains to be seen whether Buffaloes assistant coach, Joseph Takaringofa will lead his charges to victory when the two teams clash on Sunday. His boss, Chaminuka, however, has confidence in him and believes that the retired midfield genius can guide the team in its quest to get maximum points.

Chaminuka expressed confidence that his team will get the much-needed three points on Sunday.

“I have no doubt that they (Buffaloes) will win against Hwange. In fact, it is a challenge for the boys as well as my back-room staff to produce good results in my absence so that they prove to the world that the team can still get results even without the head coach on the touchline.

“I have every reason to believe that they are equal to the task. I also strongly believe that I will be one of the few coaches, if any, who will be celebrating two results, come Sunday afternoon.

“The Warriors’ match against Lesotho and the Buffaloes match against Hwange will be played at the same time and I have no doubt that I will be celebrating victory for both Buffaloes and the Warriors,” said Chaminuka in a telephone interview this week.

Although Dongo Sawmills coach, Shadreck ‘Father’ Mugurasave was unreachable for comment, his team badly needs to win Sunday’s encounter if they are to keep entertaining hopes of yet another dance in the top flight league.

With five matches remaining before the curtain comes down on the 2015 Castle Lager Premiership season, Mugurasave’s team has never known any other position on the domestic top-flight league log table apart from the basement.

Dongo Sawmill, however, draw comfort in that there is not much difference in their tally with those teams just above them, but as each weekend passes, their small mathematical chances of survival become smaller.

Sartuday: Tsholotsho FC v Whawha FC (White City Stadium); Harare City FC v How Mine FC (Rufaro Stadium); Flame Lily FC v Dynamos FC (Lafarge Stadium):

Sunday: Dongo Sawmill FC v ZPC Kariba FC (Vengere Stadium); Buffaloes FC v Hwange FC (Sakubva Stadium):

Wednesday: Chapungu FC v Highlanders FC (Ascot Stadium); Chicken Inn FC v FC Platinum (Luveve Stadium):

Sunday: Caps United FC v Triangle United FC (National Sports Stadium 1500hrs SS).