adminNoel Munzabwa
IT’S a quarter past into the season and one can confidently predict that for the fourth season running a Zimbabwe-born coach will clinch one of the promotion berths in the MTN National First Division with George Madira’s Piggs Peak Black Swallows narrowly leading the pack.
The Northern Hhohho Region-based outfit shot to the top of the log standing on Friday night after beating another top contender Tinyosi 2-1 to move to 12 points from five matches with an outstanding fixture.
The win gave Black Swallows a two point lead over second-placed Milling Hot Spurs at the apex but Madira this week refused to lose his cool declaring, “it’s early days” into the 22 match race that can potentially make him the fourth Zimbabwean after Tarisai Changara, Saul Chaminuka and Ikabort Masocha to win promotion.
Changara did it with Tambuti in 2015/ 16, Matsapha United gave Chaminuka the 2016 /17 promotion berth with Masocha guiding Mbabane Citizen in 2017/ 18.
“It is too early to start popping champagne having just played five matches and lost one. Despite this joy of positive results I believe it is still work in progress as there is still a lot more to do in this particular race which I could easily declare highly competitive.
“We now need to consolidate our lead with a couple of positive results in our next few games but such will need to keep our cool heads as we tread into this season. Our next match is against Hub Sundowns on Saturday at Killarney Stadium,” said Madira.
Elsewhere, Saul Chaminuka’s Mbabane Highlanders settled for a 1 all draw against giant killers, Vovovo at Somhlolo National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
This weekend, the former Warriors assistant coach faces his former team (not to be read as former paymasters) Matsapha United in Mhlume on Sunday.
Matsapha United changed ownership hands to the Mhlume Peacemakers during the offseason and the name will only change during the next Annual General Meeting.
Moneni Pirates bounced back to winning ways, giving Changara a perfect 1-0 win over his former paymasters Tambuti in a match played on Sunday.
derick.khumalo