The ManicaPost
Senior Sports Reporter
MUTARE City Rovers will pop the champagne bottles after securing Premiership promotion tomorrow (Saturday) only if they beat or at least draw against Buffaloes in the penultimate round of Eastern Region Division One League matches at Sakubva stadium. The match starts at 3pm. Two rounds of league matches are remaining before the curtain comes down on the 2017 season of the Eastern Region Division One League.
If they secure promotion tomorrow as widely anticipated, City Rovers join Shurugwi based outfit Nichrut FC who gained promotion into the Premier Soccer League after a nervy 1-0 win over Chrome stars in Kwekwe to win the Central Region Division One title. The John Nyikadzino-coached side became the first team from the small scenic town to play in the top flight.
Bulawayo Chiefs from the Southern Region and Herentals from the Northern Region are the other teams that have already secured promotion. However, after tomorrow’s match against Buffaloes on Saturday, Mutare City Rovers will wrap up the season with a date against Prime Rangers away in Rusape. Mutare City Rovers are leading the log table by six points ahead of Buffaloes and Tenax who are both tied at 60 points.
Mathematically, Gusha Bhora, as City Rovers are affectionately known by their fans in the eastern border city, only need just a point from the two matches to secure Premiership promotion without having to resort to calculators for goal differences. However, Mutare City Rovers Chief of Protocol Benjamin Chindima said they are geared to end the race for the title this weekend although they are not looking down upon Buffaloes.
When asked about reports of player revolt in camp this week, Chindima said the players and the technical department are aware of what is at stake and they would not want to spoil it at this stage.
“We are aware that the league championship is ours to lose. We are leading the table with six points and two matches are remaining. We also have a healthy goal advantage than our competitors — Buffaloes and Tenax.
“Yes there could have been some minor misunderstandings along the way but I believe that can always be resolved in-house. The players and the technical department are aware of what is at stake and they would not want to spoil it at this stage.
Mutare City Rovers were relegated from the top flight league at the end of last season and their quick return to Premiership football is widely expected to ensure a longer stay among the big boys of domestic football given the lessons learnt in the past.The intriguing race for Premiership promotion in the Eastern Region has seen three teams with a link to Mutare — City Rovers, Buffaloes and Tenax — dominating the league.
