The Sunday Mail
Tendai Chara
THE Northern Region Soccer League kicks-off on Saturday with Herentals, Mushowani and Golden Valley among the early favourites for the title.
Shamva and Makwiro Platinum, both bankrolled by cash-rich mining companies, are also tipped to feature prominently in the promotion matrix.
Herentals, who played second fiddle to eventual winners Black Rhinos last season, have declared their intention to get it right this term.
They are, however, going to face competition from seasoned campaigners Mushowani and Raphael Phiri’s well-sponsored Golden Valley.
In their opening match Herentals play away to Karoi United in a tricky assignment.
Long-serving coach Paul “Popopo” Chimalizeni, who guided Lengthens into the Premiership in 2006, is tipping Mushowani to power their way to the title.
“If I was to place a bet, it would be on Mushowani. Those players have been together for a long time and are now experienced campaigners.
“They also welcome Evans Katema and Zivanayi Mhanda, who have had Premiership experience with Ngezi. In my view, Mushowani is the team to beat,” Chimalizeni who is the ZPC Kariba team manager.
He added that making the home ground a fortress was a must for any team aspiring to be crowned champions.
“Basically a team must strive to win the majority, if not all, of its home fixtures. If a team can accrue, say, 57 points from home matches, it will be easy for that team to win the title. A team can win the title after accruing between 65 and 70 points, depending on the level of competition in that particular season,” said Chimalizeni.
On the opening day Mushowani are away to Trojan in a Mashonaland Central derby.
Golden Valley gave a very good account of themselves last season, finishing among the top four teams. They host Chegutu Pirates in a potentially thrilling encounter on Saturday.
Shamva have been in the trenches for some time now and the sponsorship of Metallon Gold, the same company which bankrolls premiership outfit How Mine, has given them a massive boost.
Cranborne Bullets have some exciting young talent at their disposal and head coach Nesbert “Yabo” Saruchera last week told The Sunday Mail Sport that his team was ready to put up a fight.
“It’s coming together nicely for us,” said Saruchera after his team’s workout in the capital on Thursday. “We don’t want to talk much but our football will do the talking. We have young players who are eager to make a mark in the league and they are ready to rumble.”
