The ManicaPost
Moffat Mungazi Sports Correspondent
COMPETITION among pacesetters in the Zifa Eastern Region Division One league remains tight, with the top five teams still all in with a fair chance of taking a crack at clinching the coveted championship which comes with promotion into the Premiership.
Action enters Match Day 19 this weekend for most of the clubs although some still have games-in-hand.
The lower-tier league is now in its second round and with most of the rivals among the leading pack yet to play each other for the return legs, losing to one will certainly decelerate the other’s march to glory. The contestants will, therefore, be out to cancel each other out. Only Tenax and Buffaloes have already faced off over two league fixtures. The correctional services side (39) and army outfit (37) occupy first and second positions respectively. FC Makaha (36), Masvingo United (33) and Mutare City Rovers (33) complete the top five in that order.
However, there is still room for dark horses to thrust themselves into the race and stake their title credentials given that anything is possible in football. Party spoilers are always lurking and potential banana skin situations are waiting to happen as we have witnessed over the recent past weeks when both Tenax and Buffaloes lost away to modest GreenFuel.
Very little on the log standings separates the leading teams presently, with just six points standing between Chauya Chikara at the apex and fifth-placed GushaBhora. And it will take just a few twists and turns in two rounds of matches to change the league’s complexion at the summit.
With no outright title favourites yet at this juncture of the marathon, it makes the remainder of the campaign an intriguing prospect. Interestingly, all the five sides gunning for the championship were in victorious outings over the past weekend, with FC Makaha enjoying a walkover on United Lions, and are promising not to let up in the title fight.
Because there shall be spills and thrills, joy and pain, sprints and jogs as well as trips and falls, local enthusiast of the game shall be following with keen interest how the rest of the season pans out.
With the race too close to call, the Zifa Eastern Region Division One eventual champions will have to distinguish themselves from also-rans-in by dragging themselves over the finishing line.
But who will outpace the rest?
Top 5 teams’ weekend fixtures:
Tenax vs Melfort
Buffaloes vs Surrey
FC Makaha vs Mwenezana
Masvingo United vs Chiredzi
Mutare City Rovers vs Bikita Minerals
