Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
REFUGEES outfit, Tongogara FC, might have disassembled the fishing rods way before the halfway mark of the 2026 Pacific Storm Eastern Region Division One League, but their shadow is looming large in the second tier league’s Premiership promotion race.
As it stands, Yadah FC are now sitting comfortably on top of the Pacific Storm Eastern Region Division League after opening a seven-point gap between them and fellow title aspirants – Deportivo La Murambinda (62 points), Tenax CS FC (61 points) and GreenFuel FC (59 points).
But Deportivo La Murambinda, Tenax CS FC and GreenFuel FC will all have a bye in one of their remaining matches, and that means if Yadah FC wins and collect maximum points when the trio will be inactive, that will extend the gap by another three points.
The trio will be on a bye during a weekend they respectively had to play against the now defunct Tongogara FC, and when a team is on a bye, they are not awarded any points or goals.
Its advantage Yadah FC!
With six rounds of matches remaining before the curtain comes down on the 2026 season, the kitchen is getting hot in the Pacific Storm Eastern Region Division One League race, especially for the title Premiership promotion aspirants, Deportivo La Murambinda, who suffered a humiliating 1-4 defeat at the hands of GreenFuel at the GreenFuel Arena last Saturday.
Deportivo is a Spanish word that translates to sports, sporting, or casual, but it was not a casual affair at the GreenFuel Arena as Deportivo La Murambinda went through the crucible and left to rethink their seriousness and credibility in this race.
Mutare correctional services side, Tenax CS FC, have also been firing hot and cold.
During a weekend that they could have done themselves a huge favour by winning their match at home up against FC Wangu Mazodze at Mutare Boys’ High School last Saturday, the prison wardens conspired to disappoint by settling for a morale sapping stalemate.
In a race for Premiership promotion like this one, home advantage can never be left to count for nothing by any serious contender, let alone at this stage of the contest.
However, the end looks green for GreenFuel.
Apart from their commanding 4-1 drubbing of hapless Deportivo La Murambinda last Saturday, GreenFuel are fully aware that they will be hosting Yadah FC on the final day of the season.
As the ups and downs in the race for promotion unfold, the league chairman, Simba Wisdom, foresees the winners of 2026 being decided on the final day of the season. Wisdom said this is a healthy scenario, one that promotes fair play and desirable competition that makes the league exciting.
“Premiership promotion must never come on a silver platter. This tight competition is healthy for the game of football, and I foresee the 2026 league winners being decided on the final day of the season.
“This is something that we cherish as a region. Gone are the days when the team to be promoted will be known at the start of the season. We just look forward for the best team of the season to lift the league championship,” said Wisdom.
Tongogara ghost in the Eastern Region title race
