The ManicaPost
THE Castle Lager Premiership gets into its final 15 matches of the season this weekend and Buffaloes coach Luke Masomere’s team might not be financially sound, but their maverick gaffer believes they can still fight for a place among the top eight.
“I now want to win at least seven among the remaining 15 matches of the season and I am done. In fact, my aim is to finish the season on a respectable position, preferably among the top eight teams on the log,” said the former Shabanie Mine coach.
Masomere and his men will be away in the Lowveld town of Chiredzi on Sunday for a date against relegation-haunted Chiredzi in a potentially exciting back-to-back mid-season clash at Chishamiso Stadium.
Buffaloes will troop into the playing field at Pamuuyu, as Chishamiso Stadium is affectionately known, with all the bragging rights after edging Chiredzi 1-0 when the two teams played a fortnight ago at Sakubva Stadium in the reverse fixture.
However, Sunday’s encounter presents a platform for revenge for the Chiredzi side and given the relative stability that now prevails in the Chiredzi camp, the sugarcane boys can easily fit for the book-makers’ favourites.
But Masomere is not reading too much into calmness that seems to be now prevailing at Chiredzi and is confident that his team will collect maximum points.
“We are looking forward to getting three more points in Chiredzi. We know that things are tough here at Buffaloes financially and in Chiredzi sanity seems to be returning, but we do not care much about what is transpiring off the field of play. We just want to travel to Chiredzi to get the three points,” he said.
Nonetheless, Buffaloes might find a different Chiredzi side from the one they beat at Sakubva after new coach Gishon “Gizha” Ntini, who was officially unveiled this week, promised to introduce a host of new players when they face Buffaloes.
That Chiredzi now needs to start collecting points especially while playing at home if they are to escape the relegation chop, will only serve to make things more difficult for the Mutare outfit on Sunday.
“It might be difficult for us against Buffaloes on Sunday simply because we will be using quite a number of new players. It is obvious that the players would want time to perfect their combinations so that they can form a formidable unit,” he said.
The former Triangle coach said the financial challenges facing Chiredzi are not peculiar to them and that will not derail them from their quest to evade the chop.
“Yes, we have our own problems just like any other team. After all, there are some teams struggling financially, but are in good positions on the table. This all goes to show that there is more to getting good results than just the money aspect.
“Players and coaches need money, that is a fact, but we are saying there are a lot more issues that have to be in place for a team to get good results. All we have to do is adjust to the situation that suits us in our current state of affairs as a club,” said Ntini.
Matchday 16 Castle Lager Premiership fixtures:
Friday (today): How Mine v Black Rhinos (Luveve Stadium):
Saturday (tomorrow): Chapungu v Triangle United (Ascot Stadium); Chicken Inn v ZPC Kariba (Luveve Stadium):
Sunday: Dynamos v Caps United (National Sports Stadium: 1500hrs SS); Chiredzi v Buffaloes (Chishamiso Stadium); Bantu Rovers v Highlanders (Barbourfields Stadium); Shabanie Mine v Platinum (Maglas Stadium); Hwange v Harare City (Colliery Stadium).
