adminRay Bande Senior Sports Reporter
DARK horses in the Eastern Region Division One race for the title Eastern Star’s coach Taku Shariwa believes the league championship is for Mutare City Rovers to lose.
Eastern Stars are third on the log standings, behind pacesetters Mutare City Rovers and fellow championship aspirants Dongo Sawmills.
Shariwa’s side is only five points adrift the log leaders and with 10 matches to go, simple mathematics reveals that they also still have a fair chance of winning the championship albeit playing their debut Division One season.
City Rovers have been leading the race for the title and their coach Kenny “Bokande” Kachara is still unbeaten, about 13 matches since he took over from axed Joseph ‘‘Shaba’’ Takaringofa.
However, the Mutare Municipality outfit has been dropping crucial points along the way due needless draws even when playing at home.
Be that as it may, Eastern Star’s coach Shariwa says City Rovers have an upper hand in the race for Premiership promotion and it’s theirs to lose.
The former Hippo Valley coach said his team’s chances of winning the league title are slim and it would be a bonus for them to clinch the championship.
“We are playing for fun and if we manage to win the league championship then it would be a bonus. We are not under any pressure to win the league.
“I think this one (the race for the title) is for City Rovers to lose.
“They have the upper hand and I think they have the capacity to win it.
“Our chances of winning the league championship are slim judging by the trends in the league in recent weeks,” he said.
The riveting race for Premiership promotion and the battle to evade relegation in the Eastern Region Division One season will all be decided in the remaining 10 rounds of league matches.
Mutare City Rovers, affectionately known to their fans as Gusha Bhora, are leading the race for promotion into the top-flight league, thanks to a two-point gap at the summit of the log standings.
Fellow Premiership promotion aspirants Dongo Sawmills are only two points behind Rovers and the Rusape side is drawing comfort from the fact that Mutare City Rovers still has to travel to Rusape among the remaining fixtures.
That Mutare City Rovers are not consistently winning matches, albeit maintaining an unbeaten record, coupled with the fact that they will face a torrid 90 minutes against an Evans Chikwaikwai-led Dongo at Vengere in Week 27, complicates issues for Rovers.
Eastern Stars, who have been blowing hot and cold in this race for the title, cannot be ruled out although if one judges the trends so far in the league, it remains difficult to imagine Rovers dropping five points in the remaining matches.
Online Reporter