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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
NGEZI Platinum Stars coach Takesure Chiragwi is happy and worried at the same time.
He is not entertaining any talks about the championship despite leading the race with 12 games before the curtain comes down on the season.
The platinum miners are just a point above second-placed Highlanders and Chiragwi, who has won three Coach of the Month accolades this season, has been delivering the same message to his lads.
“I have been telling my players to stay grounded. This is a marathon. One day we are up, the next day it is the other team so we need to stay focused in this race,” said Chiragwi.
“Our aim from the start of the term has always been to try and be competitive. We want to build a team that is able to compete at this level.
“I am happy we have been doing well but as I have always said, we need to keep on working hard. Being on top of the log doesn’t mean anything yet. We have to be grounded and keep on fighting”.
The Mhondoro team have been boosted by the recovery of their chief striker Tinotenda Murasiranwa. The 19-year-old has been out of action for the past four weeks after suffering a nasty injury in Ngezi Platinum Stars’ 2-0 Chibuku Super Cup Round-of-16 victory over Triangle five weeks ago.
He has subsequently missed key league fixtures against CAPS United, Triangle, Herentals and Manica Diamonds.
But he has bounced back and will be available for selection on Saturday when Ngezi Platinum Stars look to consolidate their lead at the top against Green Fuel at Baobab.
Murasiranwa, who has scored five goals this term says he has been missing the game and is happy to be back.
“It’s been painful watching from the side lines,” said Murasiranwa.
“I am however, very happy that the team has been playing very well. You know as a footballer, you always want to be involved in some way.
“I have endured a long period on the sidelines nursing the injury. I am now back having started training last week.
“I am eager to help the team achieve their targets this season. My team, right from the executive, the players to the fans have been very supportive and I appreciate that a lot.
“I am happy to be back doing what I love the most, that is playing football”.
While the team has Murasiranwa back in the fold, they will miss the services of defender Ariel Makopa for some time.
Makopa suffered an injury on Saturday last week when Ngezi Platinum beat Manica Diamonds 1-0 at Baobab to shoot to the top of the table.
So bad was the injury he had to be taken to the hospital straight from the turf.
Makopa was recently recalled from loan at Triangle to plug the gap created following yet another long-term injury to Carlos Mavhurume.
The latter could miss the rest of the season as he is still recovering from a knee surgery.
Makopa was on Wednesday expected to undergo an MRI scan which will determine the extent of his ankle injury.
X-rays done on the ankle indicate no fracture though.
Online Reporter