The ManicaPost
Tips FC Platinum in title race
Cautious ahead of City clash
Senior Sports Reporter
CELEBRATED gaffer, Sunday Chidzambwa, returns to Sakubva Stadium on Sunday for the second time since his return to the trenches of domestic top-flight football when ZPC Kariba face Mutare City Rovers in a Castle Lager Premiership match.
The match starts at 3pm.
| A highly respected voice in domestic football debate, the Dynamos and Warriors legend, who was the first to take the national team to the Promised Land of the 2004 Afcon tournament in Tunisia, was at Sakubva Stadium last year for a similar assignment almost the same period. |
In that assignment last year in November, his ZPC Kariba outfit went down 1-2 at the hands of relegated Buffaloes FC.
Mutare outfit Buffaloes were by then hanging by a thread as they fought for dear life in a riveting Castle Lager Premiership relegation dogfight and duly secured a crucial win over ZPC Kariba at Sakubva Stadium.
A shrewd tactician in his own right, known for an immeasurable aptitude and proclivity for defensive play, Mhofu will once again return to Sakubva Stadium to face a team that is fighting relegation.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza
However, Chidzambwa reckons so much has changed, let alone the identity of their opponents at Sakubva on Sunday.
As if that was enough, a lot has also changed in the ZPC Kariba camp including the departure of exciting playmaker, Raphael Manuvire who pulled one back in the 63rd minute against Buffaloes at Sakubva last year when the evergreen midfielder intelligently connected Limited Chikafa’s cross.
Thus the legendary gaffer believes a cautious approach to the game against City Rovers will work well for his team.
“I think Mutare City Rovers are a good side. They have been posting good results of late. After all, football is football, there is no easy team in the Premiership.
“To me anything can happen at Sakubva Stadium on Sunday. All we want is to let the better team of the day win the match. There are no more pushovers in the top-flight league and Mutare City are certainly not a pushover,” said Chidzambwa.
The veteran coach tipped log leaders, FC Platinum to win this year’s Castle Lager Premiership title.
“I think it is going FC Platinum way. From my assessment of the performances of teams in the race for the title, I am convinced that it is FC Platinum that is going to land the big prize.
“They (FC Platinum) have been consistent, playing well both at home and away. I do not see anyone dislodging them from the summit of the league table. In fact, I think they just need to win four matches from the remaining and they are home and dry,” said Chidzambwa.
Sunday Chidzambwa
Chidzambwa occupies a special place in the history books of domestic football after he led the Warriors to a best runners-up finish in a tight group that had them tied on 13 points with winners Mali at the end of the marathon to book a berth at the Nations Cup finals for the first time since independence.
Premiership Fixtures:
Saturday: Chapungu FC v Bulawayo City FC (Ascot Stadium); FC Platinum v Dynamos FC (Mandava Stadium 1500hrs SS):
Sunday: Highlanders FC v Ngezi Platinum FC (Barbourfields Stadium 1500hrs SS); Hwange FC v Border Strikers FC (Colliery Stadium); Caps United FC v How Mine FC (National Sports Stadium); Mutare City Rovers FC v ZPC Kariba FC (Sakubva Stadium); Triangle United FC v Chicken Inn FC (Gibbo Stadium):
Monday: Tsholotsho FC Vs Harare City FC (Luveve Stadium 1500hrs SS).
