The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporter
TITLE aspirants Golden Eagles and Herentals Under-20 have had to wait a little longer before resuming their rivalry in the Northern Region Soccer League (NRSL).
The 2023 season, which was scheduled to start on March 18, will now commence on Saturday, as ZIFA organised a refresher course for referees that ran from March 17 to 19.
The course was designed to apprise them about latest amendments to laws of the game.
“We have been forced to shift our programme to accommodate the referees’ course.
“Our annual general meeting is now set for March 25, 2023 . . . and the league commencement date is now April 1, 2023,” NRSL said in a statement.
Last year’s runners-up, Herentals U-20, and Gilbert Mushangazhike’s Golden Eagles are being tipped to lead the race for promotion into the Premier Soccer League this year.
Golden Eagles stuttered along the way to finish third in a close race that was won by Simba Bhora.
“It is every team’s target, wish and desire to finish highest in their division at the end of the season, and, yes, we definitely aspire to be title contenders,” said Mushangazhike.
However, postponement of the start of the season has had little impact on Herentals U-20’s preparations.
Their coach, Paul Benza, indicated that he had to rejig his side after four of their stars were promoted to their Premiership franchise.
“The pre-season has been hectic. Firstly, the off-season has been very long and, secondly, we had four players promoted to our premiership side and one who went to ZPC Kariba, so working on their replacements has been tough,” he said.
“Never Antonio, Joseph Chitavira, Leyeto Anthony and Pogba Chimedza were promoted to the Premiership team, and Salif Cheya went to ZPC Kariba.
“But the postponement of the start of the league will not necessarily affect us because we have been used to starting the Division One league usually two weeks after the PSL’s start.”
Herentals pushed Simba Bhora to the wire in last year’s title race, and Benza believes this has served as motivation for his players.
“Any team in the Northern Region is a strong contender for promotion. Considering that Simba, who had only a single season in the division, got promoted into the Premiership, it shows that competition will be tough, as there is also Golden Eagles and Commando Bullets, who did very well last season and are favourites to clinch the title.”
But for Mushangazhike, Herentals are not the only team they will be wary of.
“Every team is a rival and every game is the same for us, because our players are marketing themselves, so they always strive to give it their best,” he said. “Pressure is a privilege; we have set our goals and aspirations for the season ahead and we always aim to do well . . .
“We have made some changes to the squad and beefed up where necessary. We are excited about our squad’s composition and how we will be playing.”
He also dispelled the notion that the campaign could be a two-horse race between Eagles and Herentals.
“Every team starts on an equal footing and has the chance to contest for promotion. We do not take any team for granted or underestimate any team or player.”
