The ManicaPost
MUTARE Castle Lager Premiership side Buffaloes’ coach Luke ‘Vahombe’ Masomere believes that the high morale in his camp will see them collecting maximum points against troubled Chiredzi FC on Sunday at Sakubva Stadium as they knit a winning streak that should leave the army side on a respectable position on the table at mid season.
The domestic top-flight league reaches its halfway mark this weekend.
However, it is Watungwa Watungwa, who suddenly find themselves on a purple patch after beating Chapungu 2-0 at Sakubva a fortnight ago before brewing a shocker away at Maglas Stadium in Zvishavane where they beat Shabanie Mine 2-1 on Sunday. The two crucial wins have raised the spirits in the Buffaloes camp and, in a telephone interview from Harare where he is attending a CAF A licence coaching course Masomere said the rough patch they were in was over.
“I think we went on a lean spell and now we are on another patch. We just want to keep collecting points and make sure that we reach mid season on a respectable position.
“I just want us to finish the first half of the season on a respectable position. I also want to salute my players for their professional way of doing things. They are soldiering on and I think they deserve to be praised for that.
“We have no injuries or suspensions hence we will be at full strength when we meet Chiredzi. We are not underestimating Chiredzi, but we just want to collect maximum points. The morale is high because of the recent wins hence the players are eager to keep up the good spirit,” said Masomere.
Chiredzi United co-head coach, Dzingai Murinye, who took over together with Hippo Valley High School teacher Tinashe Zvishiri from Moses Chunga, said Buffaloes can only underestimate them at their own peril.
He said his team only lost last week’s match due to fatigue given that the players had not been training regularly.
“We played well in last weekend’s match but we only succumbed to fatigue because our players had not been training regularly. We had played well and conceded two late goals because of fatigue.
“I think our house is in order and Buffaloes can only underestimate us at their own peril. We now want to start collecting points and Sakubva could be the place where we will collect our first set of maximum points after the changes in the technical department,” he said.
“It is also good that we have all the players with us except Rowan Nenzou who left. In fact, he left when Moses Chunga was still here. Otherwise, we have all the players and they are raring to go. At the end of the day we want to survive relegation,” he said.
Matchday 15:
Friday: ZPC Kariba FC v Chicken Inn FC (Gwanzura Stadium: 1500hrs, SS);
Saturday: Harare City FC v Hwange FC (Rufaro Stadium, 1500hrsSS); FC Platinum v Shabanie Mine FC (Mandava Stadium)
Sunday: Caps United FC v Dynamos FC (National Sports Stadium, 1500hrs, SS); Black Rhinos FC v How Mine FC (Rimuka Stadium); Buffaloes FC v Chiredzi FC (Sakubva Stadium); Triangle United FC v Chapungu FC (Gibbo Stadium); Highlanders FC v Bantu Rovers FC (Barbourfields Stadium).
