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Senior Sports Reporter
MUTARE City Rovers will take their Castle Lager Premiership survival battle to Rufaro Stadium in the capital where they square up against Dynamos on Sunday.When Mutare City Rovers play DeMbare on Sunday, their rivals in the relegation matrix, Tsholotsho would have already played championship chasing Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo a day before.
A paltry two points separate Mutare City Rovers and Tsholotsho with Gusha Bhora, as City Rovers are fondly referred to by their fans, precariously sitting third from bottom ahead of their rivals Tsholotsho who are in the drop zone.
Simple mathematics has it that the worst possible situation for City Rovers, which is a win for Tsholotsho and a loss for Mutare City Rovers this weekend, will leave the two teams exchanging positions, with the Mutare municipality outfit getting into the drop zone.
Thus Mutare City Rovers coach, Taku Shariwa, believes his team will need to approach the match against Dynamos with a positive mentality, aiming for nothing less than three points.
Shariwa, who refused to read too much into Tsholotsho’s chances of prevailing over Highlanders, reckons that his club will not be expecting any favours from DeMbare.
“Dynamos do not do favours to anyone as evidenced by the Caps United game.
“Lloyd Mutasa has done a sterling job. Statistics back him, but at Dynamos you are judged by trophies. He is my brother by totem and by hood.
“We will go to Rufaro knowing we are better in the second round than them. On paper we are underdogs, but on the field of play we have equal chances. We badly need points than them and we will fight to death to have them.
“I will not speak about how Tsholotsho will play because I just have to concentrate on our match against Dynamos. In any case, we should not be expecting anyone to do us favours as we have the destiny of this relegation battle in our hands. It is up to us to win all the remaining matches and ensure that we survive, so why bother about how another club will play,” he said.
Shariwa confirmed that he will have to make do without veteran defender, William Mapfumo and former Masvingo United player, Saprine Muchabaya when they engage Dynamos on Sunday.
“We need to do justice to ourselves and to Mutare. A positive result is all we will bring. We have a full squad with the exception of William Mapfumo, Saprine Muchabaya and assistant coach who are attending coaching courses,” he said.
Fixtures:
Saturday: Harare City FC v Caps United FC (Rufaro Stadium); Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Hwange FC (Baobab Stadium); Chapungu FC v FC Platinum (Ascot Stadium); Highlanders FC v Tsholotsho FC (Barbourfields Stadium):
Sunday: Border Strikers FC v Triangle United FC (Dulivhadzimo Stadium); Dynamos FC v Mutare City Rovers FC (Rufaro Stadium); How Mine FC v Chicken Inn FC (Luveve Stadium); Bulawayo City FC v ZPC Kariba FC (Barbourfields Stadium).
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