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Takudzwa Chitsiga
Sports Reporter
INCONSISTENT Black Rhinos get a chance to close in on leaders MWOS when they face Zambezi G & C in a Northern Region Soccer League mid-week encounter at Centenary High School this afternoon.
MWOS and second-placed Scottland are not in action until tomorrow when the log leaders visit lowly DZ Royal Stars at One Commando and the latter side faces a cagey assignment at Arthur Tutani’s Shamva Mine.
But before MWOS and Scottland spring into action in this riveting NRSL title race that has been a see-saw affair, third-placed “Chauya Chipembere” must overcome both the Centenary heat and the Zambezi G & C challenge to close in on the front two.
Rhinos with 56 points, are five behind MWOS and one behind Scottland.
Yet Nesbert “Yabo” Saruchera’s soldiers have been blowing hot and cold lately and the goals have seemingly dried at Rhinos since the departure of prolific Everson Feremba who crossed the floor to MWOS.
Feremba is the league’s leading goal scorer with 14 goals despite sitting out several weeks during which a dispute ensued over his transfer from Rhinos.
Rhinos will also be without defender Valentine Katsande and reliable goalkeeper Lennon Gonese who has been out of the squad for nearly three weeks, reportedly on compassionate leave following the death of his mother.
There we also indications that Gonese had tried to force a move away from Rhinos and might have been sidelined in the aftermath of his family’s bereavement.
Gonese has been one of the pillars of the Rhinos campaign keeping 14 clean sheets in the team’s opening 23 matches and missing five of the 29 games the soldiers have played.
Saruchera has challenged his troops to use today’s game to redeem themselves.
“We are looking forward to the game it is going to be a tough match and we will not underrate our opponents as we are playing in the same league.
“Playing away is always tricky but we will do our best. The team has been training hard and everyone is looking forward to the game.
“The Northern Region is one of the most competitive leagues,” said Saruchera.
He knows he can ill-afford any further slip-ups in a race that also involves Harare City.
New Scottland technical advisor Ahmed Abdulla will get his first feel of the Division One game outside of Harare when his side visits Shamva Mine.
The British coach was given a winning welcome at Scottland when Allan Gahadzikwa’s first-half strike proved enough to give them victory over AGAMA at Rufaro last Saturday.
But in Arthur Tutani, Shamva Mine has the NRSL’s most experienced coach, who has turned the gold miners into a competitive unit since returning following a brief stint at Triangle.
Tutani is relishing the big test that Scottland will provide to his miners.
“We are looking forward to the game and it will be a tough encounter as they are fighting for promotion and we need to finish in a respectable position.
“Playing against these big teams gives us an opportunity to showcase our best play as it will be more tactical.
“We have a modest team that has unity which is pushing us,” said Tutani.
Fixtures:
Today: Zambezi C & G v Black Rhinos (Centenary High School), Chinhoyi Stars v Ngezi Under-19 (Chinhoyi), Harare City v PAM (Rufaro), Cranborne Bullets v Karoi United (Cranborne Barracks), AGAMA v Golden Eagles (Pfura), CC LEE Mhangura v Norton Community (Mhangura), Trojan Stars v Black Mambas (Trojan Mine), Banket United v Herentals U-20 (Kuwadzana).
Tomorrow: Shamva Mine v Scottland (Shamva Mine), DZ Royal Stars v MWOS (Commando Barracks).
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