adminTakudzwa Chitsiga
Sports Reporter
NESBERT “YABO” SARUCHERA was yesterday left with mixed feelings.
The veteran Black Rhinos coach has had a roller-coaster two days in his coaching career.
On Tuesday he was fined US$1 500 by the Northern Region Soccer League’s disciplinary committee for his role in the skirmishes that saw Norton referee Pride Benhura being attacked during a Rhinos match against CC Lee Mhangura.
Yesterday Saruchera woke up to the news that he had been crowned the NRSL Coach of the Month for June.
Saruchera would have wanted to celebrate his Allied Insurance Coach of the Month accolade with a victory but his soldiers were restricted to a 0-0 draw by Black Mambas in a mid-week assignment at Mkushi Academy grounds.
Rhinos, however, retained pole position with 38 points, albeit with their lead now just reduced to a point after second-placed Harare City bounced back to winning ways with a 3-1 demolition of Zambezi at Muriel Mine.
Ambitious MWOS, who beat Norton Community 2-0 in their derby clash at Ngoni, are third with 34 points while flamboyant Scottland lost further ground after being handed a 1-0 defeat by Herentals Under-20
But Saruchera’s accolade is a result of Rhinos’ fine run in June.
It was a double celebration in the Rhinos dressing room.
This is because chief striker Everson Feremba won a double by bagging the LM Auctioneers Player of the Month and Break Front Car Hire top goal scorer for June.
Feremba became the first player to win both awards in the same month since the NRSL launched the gongs before the start of this season.
He was both consistent and outstanding in five matches that Rhinos played in the period under review.
Feremba found the target three times during the month, including a brace against Norton Community as Rhinos secured four victories and a draw.
Saruchera’s men were denied a 100 percent record by fifth-placed Golden Eagles, who held them to a 0-0 draw at Ellis Robbins.
In other awards, there was a share of the spoils for the June Goalkeeper of the Month award which was jointly won by Roy Monze of Karoi United and PAM FC’s Moreblessing Phiri.
Interestingly, teams from Mashonaland West province have been dominating the goalkeeper awards.
Results:
Herentals 1-0 Scottland
DZ Royal 2-0 Chinhoyi
Zambezi 1-3 Harare City
Trojan Stars 0-1 Shamva
Mhangura 2-0 Karoi
Agama 1-1 PAM
Golden Eagles 1-0 Ngezi Under-19
Norton Community 0-2 MWOS
Black Mambas 0-0 Black Rhinos
Banket 1-1 Cranborne Bullets
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