Pundits speak on Eastern Region D1 2017

21 Apr, 2017 - 00:04 0 Views

The ManicaPost

Senior Sports Reporter
THE 2017 Zifa Eastern Region Division One season kicks off tomorrow (Saturday) and discussions of the club that is highly likely to win the league championship have been subject of intense debate especially in and around Manicaland where there will be no resident Premiership outfit this year.

This year’s Eastern Region Division One season was delayed after the initially planned Easter weekend start failed due to online registration challenges as well as late payment of affiliation fees by teams.

Zifa Eastern Region secretary, Simba Wisdom, told The Weekender that the league matches will start this weekend.

“We failed to start during the Easter weekend because of online registration challenges as well as late payment of affiliation fees by teams.

“We will now let the league matches begin on Saturday (tomorrow) and I think we will be able to finish the season in time. Fixtures are now in place and the clubs are raring to go,” said Wisdom.

However, analysts interviewed by this newspaper this week expressed divergent opinions on which team that will win the league championship, come the end of the season.

South African-based entrepreneur, James Lunga Meya, an ardent follower and benefactor of the local game, tipped Buffaloes or correctional services outfit, Tenax.

Meya, who is fondly referred to simply as Hwetu from his days as a player in Sakubva, heaped praises on the capabilities of Mugurasave to take the Mutare army side to the Promised Land.

“I think probably Buffaloes and Tanex are the favourites based on the talent at hand. At Buffaloes they acquired one of the best coaches in Mutare so far, Shardreck Mugurasawe. Mugurasave has the experience and capacity to lead the team into the Premiership, while Tanex still poses the ability to be a threat too based on their current squad that has been together for so long and I think this season they will gel and find the right combination to bring results,” wrote Meya in an interview via social media platform, Facebook.

Former Dynamos defence lynchpin, Lovemore ‘Thula’ Mapuya, who is now based in his hometown of Chipinge, predicted stiff competition between Buffaloes, Mutare City Rovers, newboys, Bikita Minerals and Africa Trust.

“The 2017 Eastern Region Division One season has a lot of good teams. Buffaloes, Mutare City Rovers, Africa Trust and Bikita Minerals are some of the teams that will challenge for honours. It is going to be a tight race for the title, but I think Buffaloes have players with character. I see them going back to the top-flight league. Even Africa Trust, I think it is a team to watch this season,” said Mapuya.

Desire Dube of Chimanimani said it was an open race that may see the best team of the season win the league, if the usual dirty tricks are not allowed to prevail.

“I think this is an open race. There are a number of good teams that can make it. The best team of the season will win the league, if the usual dirty tricks are not allowed to prevail,” said Dube.

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