adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
WHILE others will be running for promotion to the Premiership at the end of the year in the World Navi Northern Region Division One soccer league, Lake Harvest have set their sights on developing a team for the future. The Kariba-based side, who were promoted into Division One last year and had to fight relegation at the end of their maiden dance with the league believe they have now learnt their lessons and will not rush to engage in the tough title race.
Instead, the fishermen, who are currently sixth with 26 points want to first build a solid base before mounting a stronger challenge for promotion.
Club secretary, Pias Dure said they are pleased with the progress they have made and are geared up for the second half of the season, which kicks off this Saturday after a week-long break.
“The first half of the season we played well because we managed to remain in the top eight. We don’t have ambitions of going to the Premiership at the moment.
“We have a youthful side which we want to get used to competitive football first. We managed to be in the top half. Our aim is not to be relegated and finish in the top eight. We have been there, last year we survived relegation and we finished second position from the teams that were relegated.
“It was a tough year for us last year as compared to this year. The youngsters are getting used to the competition,” Dure said.
Dure said they will be hoping to collect more points as they seek to finish on a respectable position.“We are just going to look for a couple of points so that we are on the safe zone. We are aiming at getting around 40 points, then we know we are within the top 10. It looks like the competition is tougher, teams are closely packed in terms of points differences. Last year we had an outright team from the start. This year there are too many changes in terms of the top teams. Last year, ZPC was on top from the onset,” said Dure.
The Lake Harvest secretary said the coming in of the World Navi to support the league has also had an impact on the league.
“It’s really big and it improved quite a number of things which we appreciate. We are really happy. We had been running for quite sometime without sponsorship’’.
Lake Harvest will lock horns with DStv Rangers at Old Hararians on Saturday.
Fixtures:
Saturday: Royal Classic v Seven Flames (Tsungubvi), Gunners v Twalumba (Lafarge), ZRP Morris v Ngezi Platinum (Morris), Flame v DC Academy (Chikurubi), Mushowani v Black Mambas (Chaminuka-Madziva), Blue Swallows v Starbill (Manyame), Dstv Rangers v Lake Harvest (Old Hararians),
Commando v Chegutu Pirates (Commando).
Sunday: Karoi United v Bindura United (Chikangwe).
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