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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE die is cast!
ZIFA Eastern Region Division One League championship chasing duo of correctional services club, Tenax FC and log leaders, FC Wangu Mazodze, will get to know the better team of the 2023 season after the final whistle on Saturday (tomorrow).
The reverse fixture of this potentially explosive clash ended in a three-nil drubbing of the Mutare correctional services outfit at Mucheke Stadium away in Masvingo.
But a lot has changed since then.
Apparently, adrenaline rush is now evident in the riveting ZIFA Eastern Region Division One race for the championship which is headed for the wire with only three rounds of league matches remaining for the 2023 season, while the top four teams are being separated by a paltry five points.
The race for the title in this league has never been so intriguing and competitive in recent years and the eventual winner will certainly look back with pride for overcoming such formidable competition.
The championship debate is mainly cantered on log leaders, FC Wangu Mazodze who have amassed a tally of 55 so far, just two ahead of second placed Bikita Minerals, while surprise package, Rusitu Tigers have 51 points.
Early season favourites, Tenax FC, whose championship chances have been steadily decreasing from realistic to mathematical by each passing week, amassed 50 points.
Typical of such fiery rivalry in the game of football, emotions are running high with each passing weekend, no wonder some of the matches are ending in physical confrontations and widespread allegations of biased match officiating.
But ZIFA Eastern Region board member in charge of marketing, Benjamin Chindima said their desire as administrators of the league is to have the best team of the season winning the championship.
Chindima urged affiliate clubs to observe tolerance and sportsmanship behaviour.
“We are all aware that emotions rule, especially when we get to this stage of the season. Everyone wants to win, but at the end of the day there can only be one winner.
“All we want as administrators of the league is to have the best team of the season winning the championship. Coaches, players and administrators have to observe tolerance and sportsmanship behaviour until the last round of matches.
“As a region, we are also excited about the level of competition. Everyone never anticipated this. People had become used to a one-horse race scenario we have been witnessing in recent years, but this season has been different,” said Chindima.
He urged stakeholders to respect referees’ decisions.
“We really want to urge all stakeholders in the game of football in the Eastern Region to learn to respect referees’ decisions. Many a time match officials have been blamed out of ignorance on the laws of the game on the part of supporters and administrators.
“However, on the other hand, match officials need to conduct themselves in a professional manner and ensure that the better team of the day wins a match. Results for matches are not meant to be decided by referees, but the performance of respective teams,’ said Chindima.
Weekend’s fixtures:
Saturday: JM Busha 54 v Manica Diamonds U19, (Chiremba School Ground); Rusitu Tigers v Bikita Minerals (Ndima High School Ground); Tenax v FC Wangu Mazodze (Mutare Showgrounds)
Sunday: Midway v Chiredzi Stars (Vengere Stadium); Masvingo United v Surrey (Mucheke Stadium); Grayham v FC Hunters (Chiremba School Ground); Renco Mine v Buffaloes (Maramba Stadium).
Remaining three fixtures for top four:
Bikita Minerals: Risitu (A); Midway (H); Grayham (A)
Rusitu Tigers: Bikita (H); Mutare City (A); Ruwa (H)
FC Wangu Mazodze: Tenax (A); Masvingo United (H); Renco Mine (A)
Tenax CS FC: FC Wangu Mazodze (H); Manica Diamond U19 (A); JM Busha (H)
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