Online Reporter
Tendai Chara
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WHO is going to take the 2025 Northern Region Soccer League championship?
This question is going to be answered on Sunday, the final day of what has so far panned out to be a highly competitive season.
On the day, both the title and relegation battles will reach boiling point, with twists and dramatic moments expected.
An exciting finish is on the cards, with the race for the golden boot award being at its most intense on the last day of the season.
Sitting on 86 points, log leaders N’ombeyawora and second-placed Agama (85 points) are involved in crucial title deciding encounters against MWOS U19 and FC Oden respectively.
A win for N’ombeyawora at Ngoni Stadium will see the Nesbert Saruchera coached side walking away with the title if Agama beat FC Oden in Chinhoyi.
On the other hand, Agama will only win the title if N’ombeyawora is beaten by MWOS U19 and the Mt Darwin side beat FC Oden.
Basing on the log standings and the remaining fixtures, N’ombeyawora are heavily tipped to win the title.
Their last fixture is not as difficult as Agama’s away match against FC Oden at Kuwadzana Stadium in Chinhoyi.
Arthur Tutani, the FC Oden technical advisor, is a former Agama coach.
Tutani wants to use the knowledge he has about Agama to romp to victory and deny his former club a ticket to top-flight football.
Last week, Oden dismissed Chegutu Pirates 2-0.
Paul “Popopo” Chimalizeni, the Agama coach, is not throwing the towel yet.
“We are going to fight until the final whistle. Like I always say, its not over until its over,” Chimalizeni said.
The title chase involving Agama and N’ombeyawora has much drama, with the second half of the season being particularly eventful.
In recent matches, both teams have been scoring an avalanche of goals, keeping the title race as tight as a hangman’s noose.
N’ombeyawora’s seven-nil victory over Chegutu Pirates was followed by a five-nil hammering of a hapless Karoi United.
Agama have also registered emphatic wins, with the latest being their 3-0 thrashing of Ali Sundowns.
With only a single match remaining, the fight for survival has reached its climax, with Ali Sundowns, Chinhoyi Stars, Ngezi U19 and Shamva Mine being part of the relegation matrix.
For the better part of the second half, Shamva Mine was rooted at the bottom of the log standings.
The miners have, however, been plotting a great escape and have since climbed some three steps of the log standings.
On Sunday Chinhoyi Stars face Black Rhinos away at Mkushi.
Bottom-placed Ali Sundowns will host Banket United at Wagadhugu with both teams desperately seeking a win.
Chances of Sundowns avoiding the dreaded chop are very slim.
At Baobab, Ngezi U19 will play Shamva Mine in a high-stakes match.
Both teams are fighting relegation.
At Chikangwe, Karoi United host Chegutu Pirates, with PAM entertaining a red-hot Golden Eagles at Muriel Mine.
The third-placed Golden Eagles are one of the most consistent teams in the league. The team boast an impressive away record.
In other fixtures, Cranborne Bullets host Trojan Mine at Commando Barracks, with Harare city and Zambezi Gas and Coal clashing at Gwanzura.
The race for the Golden Boot reaches a conclusive phase with Tadiwa Chibunyu topping the charts with 16 goals.
Hot on his heels is Agama’s Tinashe Balakasi who has so far scored 15 goals
Chibunyu’s teammate, Russel Chifura is on third position with 14 goals.
Arthur Gorejena, the Golden Eagles coach, gave a summary of the remaining matches.
“The bottom of the table is indeed unpredictable, with several teams fighting to avoid relegation. Any team can still make a comeback or slip up, making the final matches crucial.”
“It has been a competitive season and we expect a neck-and-neck finish at the top. I however, don’t see the leading team dropping points on Sunday,” Gorejena said.
Gorejena tipped Agama’s Balakasi to win the Golden Boot award.
