Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ARTHUR TUTANI, one of the most successful coaches in the Division One game, is beginning to assert his influence in the 2025 Northern Region Soccer League title race.
His side, Agama are on a four-match winning streak and have suddenly assumed control.
The Mt Darwin side top the 20-team Northern Region Soccer League table with 19 points, one clear of early pacesetters N’ombeyawora, after nine rounds of action.
Resurgent Golden Eagles are third and two points behind Agama.
Tutani has chaperoned five teams into the Premier Soccer League before, namely, Sporting Lions, Mwana Africa, Monomotapa, Black Rhinos and Simba Bhora.
The veteran coach is now aiming for a sixth NRSL championship medal, this time with Agama.
The Mt Darwin side have recovered from a slow start to the season and are now on a roll.
However, the 62-year-old gaffer is keeping his feet on the ground.
“We started on a bad spell, which is good because the bad spell arrived early in the season.
“Now we have gelled as a team, but it’s a work in progress,” Tutani told Zimpapers Sports Hub yesterday.
Agama dethroned N’ombeyawora after edging the Mabvuku side 1-0 at Pfura in Mt Darwin in a midweek tie last Wednesday.
They followed it up with a more convincing 3-1 win over Karoi United at Chikwangwe at the weekend.
In the showdown with Nesbert “Yabo” Saruchera’s N’ombeyawora, it was former Harare City and Arenel Movers striker Grey Kufandada who scored the solitary goal.
Kufandada is one of the several players at Agama with Premier Soccer League experience. Former Simba Bhora striker Tinashe Balakasi and ex-Dynamos winger Cleopas Kapupurika are also now based in Mt Darwin.
Agama are also home to ex-GreenFuel midfielder Maxwell Makomeke.
With such a cast, pundits have installed Agama as one of the favourites for the title but Tutani thinks otherwise.
“This is a very competitive league with well-resourced teams that are coached by top coaches, so it will not be easy.
“It’s not going to be a stroll in the park,” said Tutani. Only four points separate Agama and seventh-place Harare City and Tutani is predicting a nail-biting race for the sole ticket to the Premiership.
“You have to be on your toes always because if you sleep, you lose.
“So close is the race that if you lose one game, you go down a number of places on the log.
“So, at Agama we are always working hard, planning for the next game, because if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”
Golden Eagles, who have 17 points and Chinhoyi Rangers, who have a point less, complete the top four.
Zambezi G&C and Black Rhinos, who hammered Moses Chunga’s Chegutu Pirates 4-0, are also high up in the title mix.
“It’s an exciting league with clever coaches. It’s a game of tactics and you have to be on top of your game,” added Tutani.
Apart from the highly respected Tutani, the NRSL boasts a number of high-profile coaches, including Chunga and Saruchera.
“It’s still too early to talk about the championship, but what I can tell you is we have a competitive side.
“We have depth, which is important, but there are teams that are greater and better than us in the league.
“So, it’s dog eat dog, and I am sure the best team will win the title,” said Tutani.
“The race is tight; we have seven or eight teams capable of winning the title.
“I have been in the Northern Region Soccer League for decades and we had so many intriguing races, but I think this year we could witness the greatest ever championship race.
“There will be difficult away matches, difficult venues and tricky home fixtures, so the best we can do is to do our best.
“But so far so good, Mt Darwin is treating me well,” said Tutani, who was raised in Harare’s suburb of Highfield.
Tutani, who has been in the dugout for the past 30 years, is relishing his next assignment against lowly MWOS U-19 at Pfura on Saturday.
“Expect a good game, one that we have to win,” he said.
Fixtures:
Tomorrow: Chinhoyi Stars v Golden Eagles (Chinhoyi), Cranborne Bullets v Black Rhinos (Commando Barracks)
Saturday: Agama v MWOS U19, Banket United v Karoi United (Kuwadzana), Black Mambas v N’ombeyawora (Mkushi Academy Grounds), Trojan Stars v Shamva Mine (Trojan Mine), FC Oden v Ngezi U19 (Chinhoyi), Chegutu Pirates v Zambezi G&C (Pfupajena), Ali Sundowns v PAM (Gwanzura)
Sunday: Chinhoyi Rangers v Harare City (Chinhoyi)
