adminRay Bande Senior Sports Reporter
FORGET about the seemingly endless disorder and maladministration at 53 Livingstone House that has since cost the nation a place at the 2018 World Cup.
Forget about the preseason warm up cup competitions that have left some teams with the bragging rights while others have been left to lick their wounds.
The 2015 Castle Lager Premiership season gets underway today (Friday).
Popular preseason permutations indicate that it will be an intriguing battle for the title with Dynamos coach David ‘Yogi’ Mandigora facing the biggest challenge of defending the championship.
Mandigora’s prospects of successfully defending the championship will obviously come under stern challenge from expensively assembled teams in the top flight league in the mould of FC Platinum, Harare City and How Mine among others.
Englishman Mark Harrison will also lead a balanced Green Machine with the potential to rekindle the good old days at CAPS United while former Warriors’ skipper Norman Mapeza will be out to prove a point with the affluent FC Platinum.
The battle to survive relegation also promises to present its own fair share of intriguing twists and turns with both Manicaland-based teams — Buffaloes and Dongo Sawmills — among the bookmakers’ favourites to get demoted.
Be that as it may, top flight league action commences with Harare City hosting newboys Thsolothso FC at Rufaro stadium while much of the action will be witnessed over the weekend before Mutare army side Buffaloes travel to the capital for a Herculean task against DeMbare on Saturday at the same venue.
Buffaloes will travel to Harare as they begin life without charismatic gaffer Moses ‘Bambo’ Chunga who dumped the Mutare side recently owing to disagreements with the team’s executive on his working conditions.
Rookie coach Joseph ‘Shaba’ Takaringofa has suddenly been thrown in the deep end and is expected to perform something next to a miracle to upset a DeMbare, let alone in their own backyard.
That Takaringofa was once at Eastern Region Division One side Mutare City Rovers last season before he was relieved of his duties after a poor streak of results leaves many a Buffaloes’ faithful with genuine doubts over the former Tanganda player’s abilities to stir the Buffaloes’ ship to safety.
However, the former Tanganda midfield magician remained bullish saying relegation is not in his scheme of things even as he ventures in this unfamiliar territory as a coach.
“We cannot talk about relegation at the moment. Relegation is not yet an issue to me now. We have a solid outfit even though we did not buy popular new players. We have managed to work with what we have and I happy that we have a competitive outfit that will hold its own against the other teams in the league. We might need one or two additions but I am happy that we now have the nucleus of the squad.
“What we only need is for the club executive to intensify its efforts to scrounge around for resources to help the team meet its obligation to take good care of its employees. We also need unity of purpose for the players and us as a technical department and with that I have no doubt that we will compete well,” said Takaringofa in an interview on Wednesday morning.
Buffaloes have not been active at all on the market owing to well documented financial challenges and the best they could do was to lure the little known duo of Joseph Jambo from Tenax and Kudzai Mangondo from Dongo Sawmills.
In the goalkeeping department, the Mutare solidiers will have to content with Blessing Mwandimutsira, Farai Samunyai and Chengetai Tandadzai, who is returning after being sidelined owing to injury.
On his opening match against Dynamos, Takaringofa said: “Dynamos are a big team and they will be playing at home, hence the pressure is on them to beat Buffaloes convincingly. As for Buffaloes, we are going there to enjoy our game and will definitely fight for a good result.”
Castle Lager PSL Matchday One fixtures:
Today: Harare City FC v Tsholotsho FC (Rufaro, 3pm; Supersport 9)
Saturday: FC Platinum vs Dongo Sawmill FC (Mandava, 3pm); Chicken Inn FC v Flame Lily FC (Luveve, 3pm); Dynamos FC v Buffaloes FC (NSS, 3pm; Supersport 9); ZPC Kariba FC v Highlanders FC (Gwanzura, 3pm);
Sunday: Triangle United FC v Hwange FC Gibbo, 1500hrs; How Mine FC v Chapungu FC Luveve, 1500hrs; Whawha FC v Caps United FC Ascot (3pm).
Online Reporter