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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
NGEZI Platinum Stars’ six-season wait for a maiden league title will come to an end this afternoon if they collect maximum points against Simba Bhora at Baobab.
The platinum miners are technically the away team in today’s game, but this is their fortress and a capacity crowd drawn from across greater Mhondoro and other parts of Mashonaland West is expected to witness their team making history.
That the Takesure Chiragwi charges can still snap the league honours even if they draw and second-placed Manica Diamonds fail to beat Cranborne Bullets at the National Sports Stadium has made the match at Baobab the biggest attraction this weekend.
It feels like this is the time the team has been waiting for after toiling in vain over the past six seasons they have been dancing with the top boys.
Six terms are also the same period that Ngezi rivals FC Platinum had to wait before finally clinching the league title.
Although the Mhondoro team have been in the league since 2016, they have competed for the league title in only six seasons given that the 2020 and 2021 seasons were eliminated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
And in a way Chiragwi will become the first coach from these two rich clubs to win the league title in his first attempt as Norman Mapeza led FC Platinum to the honours in 2017 after three failed attempts.
Chiragwi knows coronation is nearer but has called upon his troops to focus on the task at hand if they are to win the title with two games to spare.
“At this juncture, everything is delicate and you need to remain calm and retain the focus. We have played so many games throughout the season which we thought we had chances to win but ended up losing them,” said Chiragwi.
“We know winning the league with two games to play and playing away while at home will be sweet. But I have told my boys that they should play their usual game and avoid playing in the gallery.
“We are closer to winning our first championship ever and the feeling is amazing. But mathematically we haven’t won the league yet.
“You ought to be very careful as a club otherwise you can be disappointed at the end of the day. The atmosphere in the camp is fantastic and everyone is excited.
“But Simba Bhora is a very good team. We hosted them some three, four months ago and we lost. This is the same team that we have to beat at the same venue for us to get over the line. So you can see that the task at hand is very big. We need to be focused and be hungry to succeed”.
Defender Kudzai Chigwida said unity of purpose has carried the season for Madamburo who can rewrite history this afternoon.
“We have been a united lot and we need to continue on that trajectory. We are on the verge of triumph and everyone is happy,” said Chigwida.
“Everyone here is motivating themselves ahead of this critical game against Simba Bhora. But we should be very careful. Simba Bhora is a top team with top players and they can halt our celebrations.
“We are planning to celebrate but we should first complete the assignment against Simba Bhora”.
The showdown will also present Simba Bhora coach Tonderai Ndiraya, who was sacked in 2018 while still having a chance to win the title, an opportunity to prove a point or two against his former paymasters.
Simba Bhora defender Keith Murera, who was twice rewarded by Ngezi Platinum for loyalty will also watch in agony just wondering what could have been had he not left Mhondoro and should he be given minutes in today’s match, he could as well try to prevent Chiragwi’s boys from celebrating right under his nose
Online Reporter