The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
RELEGATION is not part of Mutare-based Castle Lager Premiership outfit, Tenax’s vocabulary and the club is now seeking to build on recent improved performances to end the season above the murky waters of demotion, at least according to their stocky top man, Malvin Dumbura.
Tenax C.S FC, who are hosting Herentals College at Sakubva Stadium on Sunday, are in their debut Premiership season, and the first three matches of the season painted a gloomy picture of their future in the top-flight league.
The 1-6 drubbing at the hands of champions, FC Platinum away at Mandava Stadium in the season opening round of league matches gave the prophets of doom a standpoint to predict a humiliating stint in the Premiership.
However, as fate would have it, Tenax C.S FC turned on the heat and started producing relatively good results that gave their fans a reason to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Chauya Chikara, as Tenax C.S FC are referred to by their fans largely officers from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, settled for a two-all stalemate against fellow correctional services side, Hwahwa FC at Sakubva Stadium.
They lost 0-3 away to Chicken Inn before outplaying struggling Bulawayo City 2-0 at Sakubva Stadium.
Tenax C.S FC surprised everyone including themselves when they held highly rated Bulawayo Chiefs to a nil-all stalemate away at Luveve Stadium in Bulawayo and went on play a goalless draw against giants, Highlanders at Sakubva.
Even though they went on to suffer a 1-3 defeat at the hands of Dynamos away at the National Sports Stadium in Harare on Sunday, on average, Tenax C.S FC have not disappointed.
Thus Dumbura believes his team has the pedigree to be part of the top-flight league for a long time to come.
“Yes, we had some bad results in the early stages of the season during the early matches we played, but I am happy that we have managed to find our feet.
“We are now competing at an equal level with our opponents in the Premiership and we are able to beat any team on a good day. We just want to keep the spirit and ensure we get the results that want to stay afloat,” said Dumbura.
He said Sunday’s match against Herentals College is just like any other match and therefore they will approach it with the aim of snatching maximum points.
“We always play to win. That is our approach. However, we accept that a game of football has three results. The same applies for Sunday’s match against Herentals.
“We want to win so that we widen our chances of ending the season on a respectable position. The league marathon is all about collecting points as you go, hence the need to make sure you collect as many points as possible with each passing match,” he said.
