adminMoffat Mungazi Sports Reporter
ZPC Kariba coach Saul Chaminuka is hoping to make a positive start to the 2015 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season and set the right tone for their campaign.
Chaminuka’s charges today host Highlanders at Gwanzura in an opener the reigning Coach of the Year believes will have a huge bearing in shaping their season.
And the gaffer believes they learned enough last year in their debut Premiership season to propel the league runners-up to another fine run.
“We are eager to start this new season on a bright note and gather the much needed momentum that will see us last the entire distance, during which we will also challenge for honours along the way.
“By any standards, the team had a brilliant run last season till the very end and that can only give us the impetus to do well again this season, although it is not going to be an easy call.
“The way we are going to kick-start our campaign this year, say for the first five or so games, will be crucial in giving us the desired drive and that’s the reason we are approaching this season with a positive attitude and winning mentality, which will be key and have influence on the remainder of our campaign.
“The idea is to stay as much up the log standings as possible and if we manage to hang on in the top 6, then anything is possible.
“We are still good enough a team to challenge for everything on offer, but a top four finish would not be such a bad achievement,” Chaminuka said.
Expressing confidence in his charges stringing together a number of impressive results to keep their campaign alive, he, however, pointed out that they will not exert any pressure on themselves in a bid to repeat last season’s feat.
“To be honest, we are like a baby still growing and taking its first steps, but that does not mean that we will not be ambitious to achieve our set goals since we will be gaining experience with each outing.
“It’s only natural that we seek to improve on last season’s second-place finish and like we have shown, it’s about the size of the fight in us and we believe that we are as good and can do as well as any other team in the Premiership.
“Remember, this is only our second season in the top-flight league and our potential can take us far.
“I can safely say we have both the quality and character to stand the heat and have the pedigree to cause problems again this season.
“We have put last season’s disappointment of losing out on the championship behind us and are ready to go a gear up, mount another challenge and take a shot at the title.
“If other teams falter and present us with a chance, then we can utilise that,” said Chaminuka.
Online Reporter