The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter
IMPRESSIVE Mutare City Rovers top man, Agrippa Murimba, provides an oasis of hope for inconsistent relegation candidates when they face unpredictable Hwange at Sakubva Stadium tomorrow (Saturday). Mutare City Rovers held log leaders FC Platinum 1-1
away at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane during last weekend’s round of league matches.
The impressive away stalemate against title chasing, Pure Platinum Play came hard on the heels of a morale sapping draw against lowly Tsholotsho on home turf at Sakubva Stadium a fortnight ago.
Thus tomorrow’s encounter against Hwange presents the Mutare Municipality with a chance to perfect their act on home turf.
Mutare City Rovers mentor Taku Shariwa believes the game against Hwange should be a point booster that must help his club close the gap between them and Hwange.
Shariwa said the team had done enough to guard against complacency that affected them in the recent previous home match against Tsholotsho.
City Rovers surrendered a 3-0 lead in the six-goal thriller against Tsholotsho that ended in a three-all stalemate. Thus, City Rovers gaffer, Shariwa reckons the importance of striking the right chord in the match against Hwange.
“We played well as we had planned. We need to turn draws into wins especially at home. We exude confidence and enthusiasm in our play. Hwange have been good on the road and we need to be at our best to curtail them. We don’t have injury woes and rely on teamwork.
“We need to close the gap between us and the top teams especially that are above us. Results have been encouraging and we humbly ask Mutarens to throng to Sakubva Stadium and rally behind us. They should create an intimidating atmosphere for visiting teams,” he said.
On the other hand, long travellers, Hwange are aware of the danger their hosts pose.
Hwange FC media liaison officer Tobias Mandoreba said it was no longer a secret that Mutare City Rovers are a formidable outfit. “As Hwange, we are approaching this game against Mutare with an aim of improving after three successive draws against FC Platinum and Bulawayo City (both away ) and CAPS United at home in the last match. Against Mutare City Rovers, it is a contest we need to win to avenge the home loss against the same team.
“We are not happy with the current log position and it is high time we start making an ascendance on the log table as we aim for a descent position come the end of the season.
“The boys are raring to go and it is pleasing to note that the fusion of young and experienced personnel is beginning to click, so hope to return from the long trip to the Eastern Highlands with smiles.
“However, it is not a secret that Mutare City are currently playing well and in front of their own legion of fans, we have to fight very hard to get the positive result we are yearning for,” said Mandoreba.
Although Mutare City Rovers have done well in opening a relatively comfortable gap between them and the bottom two teams on the log, the Mutate municipal outfit badly needs to reduce the gap between then and the teams just above them in order to evade the chop.
