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Veronica Gwaze
Sports Reporter
IT’S the battle between the landlord and his tenant at Baobab today when Ngezi Platinum Stars and Chegutu Pirates clash in a Mashonaland West Derby.
Hundreds of Pirates fans are expected to converge at Baobab today from their base in Chegutu.
Pirates super fan, Tonderai “Boys Dzangu” Maunde, is expected to lead Zaire’s army of fans for the invasion of Ngezi.
Today, the champions will welcome the trio of captain Kudzai Chigwida, Marvellous Mukumba and Gareth Madhake, who were serving a one-match suspension, for accumulating three yellow cards.
Combative defender Talent Chamboko is backing his team to stand the Pirates test.
“We are still happy with our weekend performance and also took it as a challenge to work harder to maintain the form,” he said.
“Making it on to the Match Day squad every week means that I am adding value to the team and all I need to do is continue putting in a lot of hard work in my art and skill to help the team to defend the title.”
He added:
“Right now we are not entirely happy with where we are and we are pushing to improve with each game.
“We are not in a bad position, we can still defend the title, we are a committed lot that is full of optimism.
“Critics may have written us off in the title race but we can never win the league title by going for 36 games without tasting defeat so we just need to start being consistent because the race is open.”
He urged his teammates to respect the Premiership newboys.
“It will not be an easy game because Pirates are not pushovers, so we need to be on high alert at all times and guard against complacency.
“There is every reason for us to pay attention to the smallest of details if we are to win, their defensive unit has been outstanding, restricting opponents from scoring hence we need to create chances as much as we can and try to convert.
“After last weekend, everyone is happy and there is a lot of energy in the changing room.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter