The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter
EVERY match that log leaders, Buffaloes will now be playing until the end of the Eastern Region Division One season is like a cup final, coach, Ndega Matsika, has said.
The Eastern Region Division One League reached its halfway mark and the Mutare army outfit Buffaloes are two points clear on the summit of the log and their coach, Matsika believes there is still much more work to be done for them to make a quick return to the top-flight league.
Watungwa Watungwa, as Buffaloes are affectionately known by their fans, went into the mid-season break after dismissing a determined Mutoko by a solitary goal a fortnight ago in a tightly contested and thrilling league encounter played at Sakubva Stadium.
In a potentially exciting top of the table clash, the two teams meet again in Mutoko for the reverse fixture on Sunday as the Eastern Region Division One League gets into its second and final phase of the 2016 season.
Matsika thinks there is still much more work to be done if his team entertains hopes of rejoining the elite in domestic football.
He said the return of goalkeeper, Blessing Mwandimutsira and defensive midfielder, Jeofrey Takunda, will add depth to the squad going into the second round of the league season.
“I am happy with the way my players have performed in the first half of the season. With the limited resources at our disposal the players gave their best and I am happy that we have maintained the top spot.
“It is clear that we still have a lot of work to do as we go into the second round of league matches. There is strong competition and we really need to be at our best to ensure that we attain our goals.
“The sad that thing is that there are some teams that are now failing to fulfil fixtures and that means some teams will now get points on a walkover basis, which is not the ideal situation for a competitive league,” said Matsika.
Buffaloes were relegated from the country’s flagship football league at the end of last season and their fine run in the Eastern Region Division One League this year is cementing hopes of an immediate return to the Castle Lager Premiership next season.
However, the army team needs to quickly put their house in order and avoid humiliating scenarios like their recent administrative boob when the team failed to get alternative socks after a clash of colours in their away match against Africa Trust.
Watungwa Watungwa leadership was at it again at Sakubva Stadium after they failed to secure the match venue as well as security personnel in time, a situation that almost delayed their match against Mutoko.
It is such administrative blunders that need not be part of a serious Premiership promotion contender as it might culminate into more serious blunders that could derail their league championship aspirations.
