The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
CORRECTIONAL services outfit, Tenax FC, who are perched at the summit of the ZIFA Eastern Region Division One League table after 10 rounds of league matches will be in for true test of character when they entertain Buffaloes in a potentially explosive local derby set for Sakubva Stadium in Mutare on Sunday.
The Mutare-based Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) team have amassed 22 points after collecting maximum points in seven matches, settling for a draw once and losing twice. They are just a solitary point ahead of fellow championship chasing Masvingo based outfit — FC WanguMazodze — who have won six times, drew three matches and lost only one encounter. This weekend marks the second week that Tenax FC have been on top of the log standings and their derby against army side, Buffaloes FC, who are third on the table and just two points adrift the log leaders, will certainly provide a litmus test for their Premiership promotion aspirations.
Tenax FC gaffer, Luke Petros Jukulile, reckons that the match against Buffaloes will not be an easy one. The former national team forward said the better team of the day will walk away with maximum points.
“This is one of the matches that we should be really prepared for. What normally happens with local derbies is that players themselves are self-motivated. The fact that one is playing a derby is enough motivation to want to win that encounter.
“We respect Buffaloes and we know they have a good team with a mature technical side. I just foresee the better team of the day coming out with the much needed three points,” said Jukulile.
After the amalgamation of all Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services football teams to form Tenax FC early this year, Jukulile is satisfied with the progress that his team has made in the first 10 matches of the season.
“So far so good, the team is playing well. If we look at the number of matches played so far, it is too early to judge, but the good thing for us is that we are within what is generally considered to be part of the title race. In two weeks to come, perhaps things will be shaping up and reflecting more on performance.
“The team to is not under any pressure looking at the maturity level of our players and us being on top. They are able to handle that, hence that is why we are there. This has been through working hard as a team,” he said.
The soft spoken Jukulile said he has a lot of respect for fellow horses in the title race.
“We respect FC WanguMazodze equally to any other teams in the Eastern Region, but we treat them as one of fellow contenders for the top spot,” he said.
He maintained that their promotion into the top-flight league remains his major ambition.
“Premiership promotion is the major task which the ZPCS team is aiming at. Tenax’s top management gave me as a task headed by the Commissioner General Moses Chihobvu himself that we should try to be back in PSL by next year and that is exactly what we are working towards achieving,” said Jukulile.
