adminGrace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
AFTER playing bridesmaids for the past three years in the Eastern Region, Mutare City finally got it right yesterday when they secured a Premiership ticket following their 0-2 victory against Ruwa Gunners at Rufaro in a photo-finish which had three clubs fighting for the sole place on the last day of the season.
Masvingo United, Hartley Academy and Mutare City went into yesterday’s matches all with chances of securing promotion.
Going into the season’s last round of matches, log leaders Masvingo United with 67 points had destiny in their hands as they needed an outright victory against Mutoko Traders to finish with an unassailable lead of 70 points.
But the former Premiership club stumbled at Chikondoma Stadium in Mutoko and could only manage a goalless draw against the stubborn hosts to finish on 68 points.
Their falter threw a lifeline to Mutare City, who had 66 points as they collected maximum points to finish on 69 points.
Across town at Motor Action Sports Club, Hartley Academy, who also had 65 points going into the match, were scoring for fun against ZRP Masvingo, but their half a dozen goals was not enough to take them to the Promised Land.
It was time to celebrate for Mutare City, who last year came second behind Dongo Sawmill. In the previous year, they were again the bridesmaids to Hippo Valley.
And in 2012, they were pipped to the top spot by Triangle.
But yesterday there was no denying them as a goal in each half made sure that the team which was promoted in the Eastern Region in 2011 was rewarded for their consistency.
They join the other three teams – Ngezi Platinum from Northern Region, Border Strikers (Central) and another Council-owned club Bulawayo Chiefs from the Southern Region – that have already been promoted.
Mutare City coach Kennedy Kachara was over the moon but conceded it was a difficult year as there was so much competition.
The coach believes their turnaround was the arrival of veteran striker Dylan Chivandire during the mid-season transfer window from Chicken Inn.
The former Dynamos and Motor Action striker went on to score 17 goals to finish as the club’s leading scorer.
“We worked very hard and I am also happy that as an upcoming coach I have achieved something, getting a team into the Premiership.
“I would like to believe that our strength was our strike force which we beefed up during the transfer window and acquired Chivandire, Unesu Muzhara from Gutu FC and Tafadzwa Mukahlera from Buffaloes.
“The team became a complete unit and these players scored goals for us,” he said.
Kachara, a former player with such teams as Forestry Commission, who began his coaching career with Mutare City from the Area Zone, said he is glad to have achieved this feat.
He said he is now looking forward to the bigger challenge in the PSL.
“I don’t think playing in the league is intimidating as we used to play Buffaloes at Sakubva.
“We are not getting in the Premiership to add numbers but to compete.
“But we will look at adding maybe three or four players as most of the players are juniors,” he said.
His sentiments were also echoed by the club’s secretary general Saul Tomu.
“We will continue with our unity of purpose and seek resources required when playing at such a higher level.
“We have been getting sponsorship from our parent Mutare City Council as well as other sponsors from the community.
“We are capable of playing in the Premiership as a team but we will add one or two players.
“We are not going to add up numbers in the league but to compete and show people that there is talent in Manicaland.
“As you are aware, clubs such as CAPS United and Dynamos have been getting some players from Mutare, so we now want to have all the local players playing in their hometown,” he said.
Tomu said it was a welcome development that council-owned teams are now playing a big role in football development by having teams in the Premiership, as this is a perfect way of giving back to the community.
Mutare City started from the lower divisions as a team which municipal police would use to have their training more on a social basis before it was revamped and more resources were poured into the project.
Online Reporter