Sylvia Dube roars to life

Sports Correspondent
THIS year’s edition of the Eastern Region Division One Football Sylvia Dube Memorial Trophy tournament will roar into life this weekend with 16 teams expected to battle it out across various stadia in the region. The tourney is sponsored by ZIFA president Cuthbert Dube in memory of his late wife Sylvia.

Renco Mine won last year’s tournament after upstaging Gaza Gunners 2-0 in the finals played in Chiredzi.
Eastern Region general manager Tedious Machawira, in an interview this week, said regardless of last year’s financial mishaps, all teams were geared to take part in the tournament with pleasure.

“The entire Eastern Region, the board, clubs and supporters agreed to continue playing in respect of the late great Amai Dube. If this tournament was not there, the region’s soccer hype and popularity will not be there. Yes, last year mishaps were faced, but in respect and honour of the Dube family the tournament will be held. You will realise that most games are derbies. We did this as a cost-cutting measure,” Machawira said.

On Saturday, City Rovers will face Mutare Polytechnic at Sakubva Stadium, while Masvingo United will host Gutu Leopards at Mucheke.
Marondera-based Ruwa United will battle it out with Chivhu Stars at Rudhaka.

On Sunday, Three Leaves will face off with Gaza Gunners at Southdowns.
Surrey will take on Eastern Stars at Rudhaka, while Renco faces Black Eagles at Renco Mine.
In a potential thriller, Buffalo Junior will play host to stubborn correctional service outfit Tenax at Vengere.

All matches start at 3pm.
Meanwhile, Vengere Stadium was on Sunday turned into an oasis of joy after Rusape’s adopted Eastern Region Division One side, Dongo Sawmills, edged closer to the coveted premiership ticket by collecting maximum points against tricky Eastern Stars.

The one-nil win parachuted the side on top of the log. This was at the expense of fiercest rivals and early pacesetters, Mutare City Rovers, who could only manage a point at Chivhu Stars.

Dongo’s solitary strike came from left back Farai Banda after founding the target following exciting exchanges with former soccer star of the year, Evans Chikwaikwai.

Dongo Sawmills and the second placed Mutare City Rovers are the major contestants for the league title. The two sides are separated by a point. Both sides have played 26 games, with Dongo collecting 59 points, while Mutare City Rovers are a point short on 58 points.

Though Dongo Sawmills coach, Shadreck “Father” Mugurasave, was ecstatic and full of praises for his charges, he warned his squad against complacency in their next crucial fixtures.

Mugurasave maintained that it would be suicidal if his side dropped points.
“We are in for it, and we cannot afford to drop points at this point. The belief is there that we can finish it off, but we will wait and cross the bridge when we get to it,” said the former GMB Pirates and Buffaloes centre back.

Both clubs still have 12 points to play for.
Next weekend Dongo will hit the road to Masvingo to play Gutu Leopards before returning to Vengere Stadium for the mother-of-all battles against Mutare City Rovers.

The game will likely decide which side will win the league title.
After the Mutare City Rovers duel, Dongo Sawmills will play Ruwa United following which the curtain will come down with a home fixture against sugarcane growers, Mwenezana.

Chikwaikwai, who has added both steel and fire power to the side, said his troops were focused on collecting the remaining 12 points.
“This will be the greatest payback for the support we have been receiving from the Rusape community. We like to appeal to supporters to continue rallying behind the club. Their support is crucial at this juncture as we are closer to delivering the goods,” said Chikwaikwai, who has been scoring crucial goals for the Francis Dongo-bankrolled side.

The 28-year-old Rusape-born goal-poacher joined Dongo after a short stint as Division Two side Watermark player-cum-coach.
The free-scoring striker cut his milk teeth at the now defunct Rusape outfit Grainmasters and later joined the then Premiership side Sundowns before he crossed Limpopo to join Bidvest.

He later joined a Mozambican outfit before returning to domestic top-flight league with Chicken Inn until he headed back home to help Division Two side Watermark.