adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
BLACK Rhinos have declared war on their opponents Mushowani Stars when the two teams clash this afternoon at Commando in a Northern Region Division One Soccer League encounter.
The army side lost 1-3 in the first round and expressed some concerns over the way the match officials handled that game in Madziva.
Rhinos coach, Droment Chirova said they will be out in full force as they seek to avenge their first round defeat at the hands of Mushowani.
“We still remember that defeat. It was a painful defeat but as soldiers we will soldier on and now it’s our turn to turn the tables. Maybe we will revenge on the same score line or more than that but we have to collect three points from them also.
“We played Gunners last week and drew at their home but now we are at home against Mushowani and during our preparations we were focusing on collecting maximum points.
“We can’t lose this game, we can’t allow them to collect six points from us. I am very confident it will be a very different game. Maybe we lost because we could not play well but we have been correcting ourselves so that we get results. We have to be on top from the first whistle,” said Chirova.
Chirova said they are feeling a little bit of pressure now with Ngezi Platinum appearing to be unstoppable in the Northern Region league.
Ngezi are leading the championship race with 48 points and Rhinos are 16 points behind them
“Of course, there is a bit of pressure, Ngezi Platinum are running away with the title. But there is always pressure in football.
“So for this second half our target is we don’t have to give away points. We would rather get one point and it will help us at the end of the season,” Chirova said.
While the former Premiership side are desperate for a win today, they should not expect an easy task with Mushowani’s caretaker coach, Angirai Chapo, saying they need to win today’s game at all costs.
Chapo needs to meet an eight points target from four games set for him by the club if he is to become a substantive coach for the side.
So far he has managed five points in three games.
Their maximum points came from the match they were awarded against Lake Harvest, who failed to pitch up for the game.
They then settled for a goalless stalemate against ZRP FC before they drew 2-2 against Seven Flames.
“My guys are up for the game, morale is high because we are playing one of the strongest teams in the league. We expect to get three points, we don’t want to lose points and I think my guys will do it.
“I used to play for Dynamos and for 11 years I was with the team as a player we never lost a game against Black Rhinos. It’s a must win game, I have to make sure we win this game,” Chapo said.
In other matches Seven Flames host log leaders Ngezi Platinum at Gwanzura.
It remains to be seen if Seven Flames can become the first team to beat Ngezi since the league started early this year.
Today
Black Rhinos v Mushowani Stars (Commando), Zatex v DStv Rangers (Alaska), Blue Jets v Karoi United (Rimuka), Darwin v Cargo Carriers (Pfura), Lake Harvest v Blue Swallows (Chaminuka), Seven Flames v Ngezi Platinum (Gwanzura), ZRP FC v Herentals (Morris), Gunners v DC Academy (Motor Action).
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