Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) side, Tenax FC, have nothing, but a lethargic start of the season to blame for the tricky situation that they find themselves in as the 2024 Eastern Region Soccer League title race is slowly, but surely being decided.
Tenax FC were one of the favourites to clinch Premiership promotion before the start of the season, but as things stand, the ZPCS side is a massive 12 points adrift runaway leaders, FC Wangu Mazodze, with 12 matches left before the curtain comes down.
That Tenax FC returned to the Eastern Region Division One League after a protracted boardroom fight that eventually gave Bikita Minerals the greenlight to join the elite league, gave many of their fans and neutrals a reason to believe that they would be out to prove their detractors wrong by making a swift return to the top-flight league.
Alas, the Blessing Madombi-coached team did not live up to those expectations as they started dropping points along the way, and allowed the Masvingo-based log leaders to take control of things in the league.
Madombi concedes that it is how they started the season that affected their chances of winning Premiership promotion.
“It has been a fair season, especially considering that we took long to settle after that boardroom decision that denied us promotion into the Castle Lager Premier League this season.
“Remember, we started the season with some members on suspension. We are now stable, and you will realise that we moved from ninth position to where we are now. We are therefore happy,” said Madombi.
The Tenax FC gaffer believes that the mathematical chance they have for clinching the league title can still end up realistic.
“For as long as we have a mathematical chance of clinching the championship, then we are strongly in contention,” he said.
Club chairman, Stefani Masina, weighed in, saying their current form gives them hope that something can still be achieved.
“Currently our team is playing well, considering that out of the past eight matches, we won six matches, drew once and lost once. Those are good results for us. It is only that we started on a low note, but overall it is not a bad performance,” said Masina.
However, the soft-spoken Tenax FC chairperson, admitted that the race for the title is now tricky for them.
“That (Premiership promotion) remains a dream come true, though the chances are now a bit tricky, but we are happy that the top team is currently dropping points.
“Our plans are to bounce back into the PSL, and that is also being the main reason we are playing,” said Masina.
