The ManicaPost
Moffat Mungazi
Sports Reporter
BARRING a spectacular fall of monumental proportions, another Manicaland outfit – GreenFuel – will on Sunday seal Premiership promotion and bring top-flight football to the province, Chisumbanje in particular, if they manage to beat Grayham away in Ruwa.
Having outpaced their title rivals for the greater part of the campaign, the ethanol producers already now have one hand on the championship trophy and a fruitful finish is beckoning for a historic elevation into the top-tier league from the ZIFA Eastern Region Division One.
If their marauding march to the podium is anything to go by, then there is very little – if any – to suggest that the log leaders will drop points in their next watershed assignment.
GreenFuel comfortably sit on top of the pile with 62 points from 24 matches.
They hold a 14-point lead over second-placed Mutare City Rovers (48) who have a game in hand.
Their campaign was built on a firm foundation that has so far produced impressive results of 19 wins, five draws and no defeats.
Effective on one end of the pitch where their prolific attackers have plundered in 54 goals, they have also been productive on the other side as their rearguard has only shipped in a paltry five goals.
Coach, Lloyd “Samaita” Mutasa and his charges even have the luxury of clinching the coveted prize with three games to spare if they emerge victorious on Sunday as that will take their points tally to an unassailable 65, while Mutare City Rovers can only conclude the campaign with a total of 62 if they win all their remaining five fixtures.
GreenFuel face Surrey, Chiredzi Stars and Buffaloes after Grayham.
Such is how serious they are treating the game and the remainder of the campaign that they sparred against Premiership side, Yadah Stars on Wednesday in Harare to fine-tune for the Grayham encounter.
This was after they decided to stay put and camp in the capital after playing Melfort away last weekend.
If they strike gold, as is highly likely, their home ground – the GreenFuel Arena – will definitely fill to the rafters and erupt into euphoria with a victory parade when their golden boys entertain Surrey the following weekend.
As they rode on a championship-winning form decorated with dazzling displays over the course of the season, crowning GreenFuel eventual champions evidently became a matter of only delaying the inevitable.
Although the municipal outfit ran them close in the title race, their relentless charge was difficult to keep up with and GushaBhora gradually fell off the pace.
To their credit, however, Mutare City Rovers were one of only three clubs to have scored past GreenFuel.
With three, they have scored the most goals against the pacesetters over two legs, while Manica Diamonds Juniors and FC Wangu Mazodze have managed one apiece.
Their sharpness in front of goal has seen the ethanol producers prevail in every game they have scored, managing at least two goals each time they found the back of the nets.
Interestingly, all their five draws have come in matches they have failed to scores, managing only 0-0 draws.
Mutasa has attributed their success to unity of purpose at the club.
“Hard work, determination and perseverance from the executive, the technical team and the players as well as the supporters have been key. Everyone pulled in the same direction to get us where we are today. The hunger for glory and quest for success was the fuel that drove us to chase the targets we are now set to achieve,” said the soft-spoken gaffer who made his name as a midfield magician who illuminated Sakubva Stadium during his heyday with the now defunct Tanganda before enjoying a glittering career with Harare giants, Dynamos.
The seasoned tactician added that they are treating all their remaining games as equally important.
Said the ex-DeMbare player and coach: “We are keeping the positive vibe alive until the last second of the season’s final game. There will be no dead rubbers for us even after being crowned champions. We will remain competitive throughout and possibly match, break and set new records in the process.
“This will create and promote a culture of winning every game so that we get used to that. We also want to keep the momentum going and build rhythm as we prepare for our debut Premiership season. It also helps keep alive the spirit of competitiveness among the players as others who used to play cameo roles will be handed the chance to show what they are capable of.”
Banking on experience, their tried and tested players such as Ishmael Lawe, Marshall Mudehwe, Obey Mwerahari, Leroy Murape, Cleopas Kapupurika, Tafadzwa Mahori and Livingstone Genti were trusted with championing their cause.
They were the torchbearers as the exciting youthful brigade of the likes of Tinotenda Magananzva, Tinashe Munemo and Victor Machapa bedded in into the first team.
The youngsters also stepped up to the plate and caught the eye with commanding performances.
That seamless blend of youth and experience has carried the day for GreenFuel.
Goalkeeper, Tedious Baye also deserves special and singular mention.
His imperious form resulted in him conceding a miserly five times and keeping an incredibly massive 20 clean sheets in 24 matches.
When – rather than if – he pulls this off, Mutasa will immortalise himself in the football folklore of the Eastern Region Division One league as this will be his third time to successfully guide a team into the Premiership.
He earned promotion with Kiglon (2007) and Highway (2008).
