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Sports Reporter
ON the 30th anniversary of Black Rhinos’ sensational triumph in the domestic championship race, ZPC Kariba are banking on history repeating itself this year as they battle to be league champions.
Rhinos, then a formidable side that had wooed some of the best players from Dynamos and CAPS United, ended the Glamour Boys’ dominance when they won the 1984 league title.
DeMbare had won four straight league titles on the bounce from 1980 to 1983.
But the Glamour Boys were swept away by the then Super League newboys, powered by a number of players with experience in the top-flight league, and Rhinos emerged as the champions.
They also created history as the first team to come from Division One, where they had only lost one game, to turn themselves into league champions in this country.
ZPC Kariba host Dynamos in a make-or-break league tie at the National Sports Stadium on Saturday knowing that a win, in that game, will virtually guarantee them the league title in their first dance in the Premiership.
Although they would still have a game against CAPS United, they would have eliminated the Green Machine from the title race and it’s unlikely that their rivals will have the same passion, for success, like them.
ZPC Kariba were promoted from the Zifa Northern Region Division One league last year and could become only the second team to win the Premiership title in their first season in the top-flight league.
Just like Black Rhinos, ZPC Kariba have also built their team around seasoned players, who were recruited from DeMbare and Makepekepe, and 30 years after Chauya Chipembere used the same formula to become champions, there is a feeling within the Katuruturu camp that fate is on their side.
Interestingly, ZPC Kariba, just like Black Rhinos, also use a red home kit, something that the newboys believe shows that fate is on their side.
Shepherd Murape dumped DeMbare to inspire Black Rhinos to the league title 30 years ago while Saul Chaminuka left CAPS United at the beginning of the season and hopes to lead ZPC Kariba to success.
Fixtures
Saturday
ZPC Kariba v Dynamos (National Sports Stadium,), Chicken Inn v Buffaloes (Hartsfield )
Sunday
CAPS United v Harare City (National Sports Stadium), Shabanie Mine v Highlanders (Maglas), Bantu Rovers v How Mine (Hartsfield), Hwange v FC Platinum (Colliery), Chiredzi v Triangle United (Chishamiso), Chapungu v Black Rhinos (Ascot )
Suspended Players Match Day 29
Victor Bangira (Chapungu), James Jam, Munyaradzi Diro-Nyenye (Harare City), Liberty Chakoroma, Lloyd Katongomara (Buffaloes), Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United), Munyaradzi Mungadze, Takabva Mawaya, Gilbert Zulu (Hwange), Hardlife Mawundi (Triangle), Marvellous Dikinya (Shabanie Mine), Milton Kurewa (Black Rhinos), Brian Mbiriri (Chicken Inn), Wisdom Mutasa (FC Platinum), Tawanda Mpungu (Chiredzi)
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