Online Reporter
Onward Gangata
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NGEZI Platinum Stars have started well but their coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva says he still wants more from his troops.
The former champions were expected to struggle this season, after losing the majority of their regular first-team players, and coach Takesure Chiragwi, to CAPS United. They were also hit with a FIFA ban.
This means that Ngezi were not able to replace the players they lost and they only filled the gaps by recruiting from their junior club.
After the 2-2 draw away at Hardrock, Mutiwekuziva did not hide his concern.
“It is very important to have consistency, we need to work extra hard so that we win week in week out, we need that consistency,” he said.
He is not the only frustrated coach.
Joel Luphahla has watched his side let games slip, including from winning positions.
“We seem to be drawing a lot of games, but we need to put up a string of wins and close the gap at the top, at the moment it’s win, draw, win, draw which is not good enough,” he said.
That pattern is everywhere.
Only eight teams have managed back-to-back wins this season. Five sides — Highlanders, TelOne, Agama, Manica Diamonds and FC Hunters – are still searching for their first victory.
Champions Scottland put together three straight wins before stalling with draws.
Hardrock also hit a three-match winning streak before dropping points at home over the weekend.
The league feels tighter, harder to read.
Former Manica Diamonds coach Jairos Tapera believes that is no accident. “Well there might be a number of factors this time for teams failing to put together a streak of wins,” said the Kwekwe-based coach.
“Maybe coaches and their teams are more competitive, teams are more defensively organised so much that goals are not coming easily, we have improved our competition because foreigners are bringing another organisational dimension in our teams.”
For Tapera, that unpredictability is not a problem, it is the point. “To me that is real competition, it’s not good to get into a competition where you know the eventual winner,” he added.
Scottland coach Norman Mapeza sees it the same way, even if it is frustrating in the short term.
“Each and every season has its own challenges, that is the challenge most teams are having this year but that is the nature of football.
“I can’t really point out what is causing that but it may also speak to clubs being more organized, it is still early in the season, teams will settle and become more consistent, even those that are still winless,” said the former Zimbabwe international.
Mathew Masinge