The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter
NINE rounds of league matches are remaining before the curtain comes down on the Eastern Region Division One season, with all the Mutare-based teams – Mutare City Rovers, Tenax and Buffaloes – occupying the top three positions of the current log standings.
Log leaders Mutare City Rovers, who are still waiting for a decision on the fate of their abandoned match against Gutu last Sunday, have amassed 45 points, just one ahead of second-placed Tenax.
ZIFA Eastern Region secretary Simba Wisdom confirmed that they had received match reports from referees who handled the encounter as well as reports from both teams. “We have received match reports from referees who handled the encounter as well as reports from both teams. We are now in the process of setting a date for us to meet over the issue and it is likely to be next week,” said Wisdom.
Dark horses in the race, Buffaloes, have 42 points. Mutare City Rovers coach, Kennedy “Bokande” Kachara, whose team faces Mwenezana at home on Sunday, said they would take each match as it comes.
“We are taking each match as it comes and we really do not change the way we prepare for matches. We respect all teams in this league because we believe they are there on merit.
“All we want are the three points. We will work hard to remain consistent and avoid dropping points unnecessarily. That is the only way we can ensure that we win this league title,” said Kachara. Buffaloes will entertain troublesome Gutu at Vengere Stadium on Sunday in a tricky encounter for the army outfit.
Gutu have not been consistent, but their knack for outplaying championship-chasing teams is not in doubt after they beat both Mutare City Rovers and Tenax in the first round matches.
Tenax have a relatively easier assignment when they travel to Chipinge for a date against Black Eagles on Sunday.
