daniel chigunwe
Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
ZPC Kariba have lived on the extremes and they have been hanging on the cliff.
Newton Chitehwe’s side will on Saturday give champions Simba Bhora a guard of honour at Nyamhunga where the latter will be crowned after their last match of the season.
ZPC Kariba are virtually safe due to a better goal difference compared to Hwange and Bikita Minerals who might catch them on points.
It will take huge scorelines from Wadzanai and Nyamhunga for ZPC Kariba to find themselves in trouble.
It would be a shame if they were to end up sliding on the decisive weekend of the term where they have the best defence in the league.
They conceded the most number of goals (48) in the league last season while they were the ninth best scorers after netting 27 goals.
But they have the best defence this season after conceding just 18 goals before the final round of fixtures this weekend.
They have the most number of clean sheets (20) this season underlining just how solid they have been as a defensive unit.
While they have been tight at the back, they have been blunt in attack where they have scored the least number of goals (16) in the entire league after 33 games.
Their top scorer, Stanley Ngala has three goals in 33 games while Leeroy Murape and Fanuel Shoko have two goals each.
Samuel Makawa, Nyasha Gurende, Tanaka Makaripe, Collen Muleya, Clive Dzingai, Migos Svinurai, Ian Sibelo and Tellmore Pio have contributed a goal each.
It is captain Boid Mutukure who has stood firm, playing every second of the 33 games without receiving even a single yellow card.
“As the captain of the team, I am very happy to have been part of the defence that has shut out opponents in 20 games,” said Mutukure.
“I am certainly excited that I have been involved in all the games and it will go down in history as well.
“I think we have done so well and, in recent history, I think we are the first team to keep 20 clean sheets which I hope will extend to 21 on Saturday.
“We will work as a team to try and get goals on Saturday against Simba Bhora and make sure we stay safe from the relegation matrix.”
Online Reporter