adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
CHEGUTU Pirates needed an adopted home to win their first league match of the season but their coach Gipter Raiva believes they are only getting due rewards for the hard work they have been putting into their shifts.
The Pirates moved to nearby Chakari, for their home games, after they were handed a three-match ban, from playing at home, in the wake of the violence that engulfed their league match against Mushowani Stars.
The team had failed to win even a single game at home since the opening tie of the World Navi Northern Region Division One championship this year.
But last Saturday Raiva, who took over from the axed Tavaka Gumbo, inspired his men to their first league victory of the season after they beat ZRP Morris 2-1.
Raiva believes Pirates would still have won against ZRP Morris, even if they had played their match at Pfupajena, because the players have been working hard.
“Playing at Chakari does not bring much of a difference even though the Chegutu community is a bit demanding and, so, there can be some pressure at times,” said Raiva.
“But the players have regained their confidence and I believe we will continue to do well and collect points.
“When you go into a battle, without confidence, you are likely to lose and I think thats what was lacking in the players.
“We had a good team from the beginning and they are capable of producing results.”
Black Mambas have also been struggling in the past four weeks.
The police outfit’s poor run continued at the weekend when they fell to DC Academy at Morris Depot.
In the Zifa Central Region Division One championship, ZRP Beitbridge were the biggest winners when they thrashed Nkayi United 6-1 to move within four points of leaders Chrome Stars.
Central Region Division One Results
Chrome Stars 3, MSU 0; Vumbachikwe 1, Gweru City 2; Tongogara 0, FC Platinum Under-19 0; ZRP Beitbridge 6, Nkayi United 1; Gaths Mine 2, Silo United 1; Zvishavane Stars 0, Hwahwa 2; Blanket Mine 3, Chomumvuri Pirates 1.
Log
P W D L F A Pts
Chrome Stars 7 5 2 0 9 2 17
Tongogara 6 4 2 0 9 1 14
Hwahwa 7 4 2 1 12 6 14
Blanket Mine 7 4 1 2 13 6 13
ZRP Beitbridge 7 4 1 2 16 10 13
Gweru City 7 4 1 2 11 8 13
MSU 7 3 1 3 6 11 10
Platinum U-19 7 2 3 2 11 9 9
Gaths Mine 6 2 2 2 14 11 8
Zvishavane 6 2 1 3 8 9 7
Silo United 7 1 2 4 9 12 5
Vumbachikwe 7 0 3 4 5 9 3
Chomumvuri 6 1 0 5 4 15 3
Nkayi United 7 0 1 6 3 21 1
Southern Region Division One
Mpumalanga 0, Technosphere 1; Quelaton 0, Ntabazinduna 3; Hwange U-20 1, Elephant 0; Tsholotsho 0, Black Boots 0; Plumtree Chiefs 3, P/Cement 3, New West 0, ZPC Hwange 2.
Southern Region Log Standings
P W D L F A PTS
Ntabazinduna 10 6 3 1 14 5 21
Plumtree 8 5 2 1 14 3 17
Tsholotsho 8 4 4 0 12 5 16
ZPC Hwange 8 4 3 1 8 2 15
Technosphere 8 4 3 1 6 3 15
Black Boots 8 4 2 2 13 6 14
Trumus 8 3 4 1 9 6 13
Hwange Jnrs 9 4 1 4 8 10 13
Mpumalanga 8 3 1 4 7 10 10
New West 8 3 0 5 9 11 9
Quelaton 10 1 4 5 4 12 7
Elephant FC 10 1 3 6 3 9 6
P/Cement 8 1 3 4 1 8 6
Old Nic Mine 9 0 1 8 2 20 1
Eastern Region
Renco Mine 1, FC Three Leaves 1; Mutare Poly 0, Masvingo United 1; Tenax 4, Mwenezana 1; Surrey 0, Mutare City 1; Gaza Gunners 1, Ruwa United 1; Chivhu Stars 1, Gutu 2; ZRP Masvingo 0, Eastern Stars 2; Buffalo Junior 4, Black Eagles 0.
Log
P W D L F A Pts
Buffalo Juniors 9 7 0 2 17 6 21
Tenax 9 6 2 1 21 10 20
Eastern Stars 9 6 1 2 11 6 19
Mutare City 9 4 4 1 15 9 16
Masvingo 9 5 0 4 14 14 15
Three Leaves 9 4 2 3 13 9 14
Ruwa United 9 3 3 3 10 7 12
Gutu 8 3 3 2 12 14 12
Mwenezana 9 3 3 3 15 18 12
Renco Mine 9 3 3 3 8 12 12
Surrey 9 3 2 4 12 11 11
ZRP Masvingo 9 3 1 5 11 16 10
Gaza Gunners 8 2 1 5 9 10 7
Mutare Poly 9 1 4 4 13 16 7
Chivhu Stars 8 0 3 5 9 16 3
Black Eagles 8 1 0 7 7 23 3
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