The ManicaPost
Senior Reporter
NEWLY promoted Tenax FC coach Shadreck “Father” Mugurasave (pictured below), who celebrated his 51st birthday on Wednesday, says his team is not only aiming at avoiding the dreaded relegation chop but actually eyeing nothing less than a top 10 finish in their debut Castle Lager Premiership season this year.
Tenax FC started their pre-season preparations on a low note, choosing to pl;ay their cards close to their chest as they build a squad to compete at the highest level of the game in the country.
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services outfit has not been linked to any big names as far as player acquisition is concerned but their coach still insists that they are building a competitive outfit.
The former Buffaloes and Dongo Sawmills gaffer said his team is aiming at finishing the season among the top 10 teams on the log standings.
“I think we are not only aiming at avoiding the dreaded relegation chop but actually eyeing nothing less than a top 10 finish. Tenax is in the Premier League to stay. Yes, we are eyeing top 10. Whenever a team is promoted the initial aim is to avoid relegation but I am quite sure that we can go beyond that.
“We only need to believe in ourselves and I have no doubt that we can achieve more with unity of purpose,” he said. He said he had experienced players that will form core of his squad.
“Personally, I give first preference to local guys to market themselves. I have always believed in local talent. By local I mean players that were born and bred in and around Mutare or Manicaland.
“Mind you, we have more than seven players who played in the Premier League before, so I will build my team around those guys. We have enough experienced local players in the mould of Malvern Dumbura, Jambo, Farai Mugumwa and Takunda Mapara, among many others. I have no doubt that these are talented players who have what it takes to prove our critics wrong,” he said.
Club secretary general Wilbert Mukasi said Chauya Chikara, as Tenax FC are fondly referred to by their legion of fans, want players with a hunger for success.
“We took up a number of youngsters to add depth to our team. Basically, we are looking at having players who still have a name to make and an ambition to chase.
“That is why you have not heard of big names and usually nomadic players at Tenax FC,” he said. Tenax FC have played two pre-season preparatory matches, first was a one all-draw followed by was a nil-all stalemate against the same team — Green Fuel of the Eastern Region Division One.
Meanhwile, Manica Diamonds have also started pre-season friendly matches after engaging fellow Eastern Region side Triangle at Mufakose Grounds in Triangle in two training matches that ended 4-1 and 2-1, both in favour of the hosts.
Manica Diamonds, who did quite well to end their debut Premiership season in fifth position on the log standings last year, initially played against Zifa Eastern Region side Bikita Minerals at Lithium Stadium in Bikita where they lost the first match 2-0 before going on to win the second practice encounter 3-0.
