Mutare derby headlines Division One

18 Oct, 2019 - 00:10 0 Views

The ManicaPost

Ray Bande Senior Reporter

ZIFA Eastern Region Division One League championship chasing duo of log leaders Tenax and second placed Buffaloes will clash at Venegere Stadium in Rusape in a potentially explosive encounter that will have a huge bearing on who will eventually win the sole Premiership promotion ticket.

The match starts at 3pm, tomorrow (Saturday).

Tomorrows’ match pitting Buffaloes and Tenax is a replay of the abandoned tie between the two teams that was played at Mutare Boys High grounds which ended in acrimony.

The two teams are separated by a paltry three points on the summit of the latest log standings with only five matches remaining before the curtain comes down on the 2019 season.

Zifa Eastern Region chairman Davison Muchena said all is set for the crunch encounter.

The lanky Triangle based football administrator said Zifa will me footing the bill for the referees, match venue, security as well as cashiers to work at the turnstles.   

“We are trying to even the playing field. We want this match to be played in a professional manner. We as Zifa have hired the match venue and we are also going to meet the referees’ expenses.

“We are also going to meet expenses relating to security and we will be manning the gates as well. Proceeds from the gate takings will be shared between the two teams so that they are cushioned in terms of costs of food and travel.   

“Remember we are talking about two teams that do not have any gate takings during their home matches. Therefore giving them something from gate takings will be our little input in cushioning them. We hope that will be appreciated.

“We might also want to put it on record that we are doing all this so that we ensure the best team of the season wins the league championship.

We want our teams to concentrate on football on the field of play and not boardroom squabbles,” said Muchena.

Muchena said they will get a special set of referees for the encounter.

“I will be talking to the Zimbabwe Referees Committee leader myself soon. We want them to give us a set of match officials with the pedigree needed to have this match brought to a logical conclusion,” he said.

Promotion of either Buffaloes or Tenax into the Premiership is widely expected to finally give Maniacaland province the first ever provincial or city Premiership derby next season given that the current sole top flight league side Manica Diamonds do not have relegation in their scheme of things.

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