D-Day for City Rovers

25 Nov, 2016 - 00:11 0 Views
D-Day for City Rovers

The ManicaPost

Ray Bande Senior Sports Rovers—

MUTARE City Rover’s life in the country’s top-flight league could come to an end tomorrow (Saturday) when they play their last match of the 2016 Castle Lager Premiership season, the second match in as many weeks without coach, Taku Shariwa who is understood to be Away Without Official Leave.Shariwa, who replaced Kenny ‘Bokande’ Kachara as Mutare City Rovers head coach just after two rounds of league matches, dumped the municipal outfit late last week and is understood to be attending a Caf B licence coaching course in Gweru.

Ironically, Post Sport has it on good authority that Shariwa replaced Kachara early in the season under the pretext that the former is a holder of a Caf B licence holder.

It appears Shariwa is enriching his curriculum vitae after a number of Premiership clubs are reportedly swooping on his signature.

City Rovers patron, Tatenda Nhamarare, who had been heavily involved in the day to day affairs of the club since its days in Division One, declined to comment, instead referring all questions to the club chairman, Isdore Bingura or spokesperson, Clayton Masekesa.

Bingura was not reachable until the time of going to Press.

However, Masekesa confirmed that Shariwa went away without the consent of the club, albeit with a great deal of diplomacy.

“The invitation for Taku Shariwa to attend a coaching course came very late and he had to rush to Gweru for the course. So he communicated with us when he was already in Gweru. We wish him good luck on the course and as a club we are hopeful that he will use the techniques from the course for the good of Mutare City Rovers,” said Masekesa.

Mutare City Rovers will travel to Ngezi to face Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab Stadium tomorrow (Saturday) in a tricky, yet must win encounter for the Mutare outfit.

City Rovers are hoping to salvage three points away from home and pray that their rivals in the relegation puzzle, Tsholotsho lose to FC platinum at Luveve Stadium in their final match of the season.

A draw away at Ngezi Platinum Stars and a loss for Tsholotsho will still be of great help for Mutare City Rovers, given that they are level on points with the Bulawayo side.

City Rovers failed to make the most of fellow relegation candidates, Tsholotsho FC’S defeat on Sunday when the Mutare outfit had to come from behind to settle for a two-all stalemate with Harare City Rovers in a Castle Lager Premiership match played at Sakubva Stadium.

Mutare City Rovers were their own enemies when they failed to utilise numerous clear cut scoring opportunities that came their way from the first whistle up until the end of the match.

The Mutare municipal forward, Stephen ‘Dealer’ Sibanda was the main culprit.

With only 11 minutes into the match, Sibanda got to the end of a

beautiful Hibron Makukutu pass while unmarked in the box, but somehow the undecided Sibanda unnecessarily held on to the ball for long before losing possession.

Three minutes later Sibanda was at it again as he did the unthinkable when he directed his header off target from close range.

However, Harare City took advantage of Mutare City Rover’s defenders’ lapse in concentration in the 15th minute when exciting Grey Kufandada headed home off Tatenda Tumba’s tantalising cross.

Five minutes later Kufandada was back to torment the opponents’ rearguard and completed a memorable brace when he went on an exciting solo run and tapped the ball home from close range to double the visitors’ lead.

Mutare City Rovers then found the target in the 41st minute through hard working Agrippa Murimba who scored from the spot after impressive referee, Ruzive Ruzive had pointed to the spot when a Harare City defender had clearly handled in the box.

Ruzive, who was close to action and spot on throughout the encounter as he handled the match with unmatched aplomb, once again pointed to spot when goal bound man-of-the-match Makukutu was hacked down by Harare City goalkeeper, Tatenda Munditi in the 72nd minute.

Up stepped Murimba who made no mistake as he hit the roof of the net.

Mutare City Rovers assistant coach, Kenneth ‘Bokande’ Kachara, who stood in for Shariwa as head coach on Sunday, conceded that his team missed a lot of scoring opportunities.

“We missed a lot of chances. Harare City goalkeeper was a busy man all afternoon. We are confident that we will survive relegation. We are now waiting for our last match against Ngezi Platinum,” said Kachara.

Fixtures:

Friday: Bulawayo City FC v How Mine FC (Barbourfields Stadium, SS); Harare City FC v Triangle United FC (Rufaro Stadium);

Saturday: Dynamos FC v Chicken Inn FC (Rufaro Stadium); Highlanders FC v Hwange FC (Barbourfields Stadium); Chapungu FC v Caps United FC (Ascot Stadium 1500hrs SS): Tsholotsho FC v FC Platinum (Luveve Stadium); Ngezi Platinum Stars FC v Mutare City Rovers FC (Baobab Stadium); Border Strikers FC v ZPC Kariba FC (Dulivhadzimo Stadium).

 

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