The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE long-awaited Mutare Pool League (MPL) match of the season, pitting log leaders, Rozvie Empire and star-studded as well as second placed Shoverland will be on at Chikanga TM Villa Two venue on Sunday afternoon.
The match starts at 3pm.
The race for the MPL 2024 title now appears to be a two-horse race, with the two clubs — Rozvie Empire and Shoverland — battling for the end of season bragging rights.
With Rozvie Empire leading the league for the past 34 weeks, and only having a one-point difference with Shoverland, stakes are high in Sunday’s top of the table clash.
Coming into Sunday’s match, Shoverland, filled with Mutare’s crème de la crème within its ranks and playing at home, has the advantage, but Rozvi Empire will be determined to make a comeback.
MPL fixtures secretary, Lloyd “Hipsta” Samanga, said the league will have its observers for the highly charged encounter.
“It is going to be an exciting match between Shoverland and Rozvie Empire as they battle for the MPL championship. Whether Rozvi Empire will win in their return match at Shoverland depends on various factors such as team strategies, player performance and match conditions.
“It is difficult to predict the outcome with certainty as anything can happen in a match of this magnitude. We can only wish the better team of the day to win the match,” said Samanga.
“Nevertheless, it is bound to be an intense and thrilling encounter and I am sure both teams will give their all to secure victory. Good luck to both Shoverland and Rozvi Empire in this crucial match. To the fans of the game of pool, we can only say enjoy the showdown and may the best team win,” he added.
The match will be steamed live on Facebook.
Elsewhere in MPL, Villa Spot, who seem to have lost the zeal and steam that the club started the season with, will entertain unpredictable Giants, while Acid, who suffered a humiliating 18-6 defeat at the hands of Rozvie Empire last Sunday, will be on a bye since the now defunct Golden Peacock are no longer fulfilling fixtures.
Meanwhile, there will be a local one-man pool tournament at Dangamvura Tavern tomorrow (Saturday ) that is being organised by MPL.
Although finer details of prizes and registration fees were still being finalised at the time of going to Press, Samanga confirmed that the tournament will feature mainly players from local clubs.
Sunday’s fixtures:
Acid v Golden Peacock; Fantasy v Buffalo; Shoverland v Rozvie Empire; Neighbourhood v Winsor; Villa Spot v Giants; Old Mutual v Mahoya; T-One v Snippers; Chikangav Soul City; Galaxy v Boss Kedha; ZhakShiraq v Beloepass; Mutare City v Tagaz v Beer Garden v Mandisa.
