SOCCER: Coaches and Key Players towards the final matches. . . what they said

23 Nov, 2014 - 05:11 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

IT has been a hectic week for Premiership sides as the clock ticks towards the final hour. We spoke to coaches and key players ahead of today’s make-or-break encounters.

This is what they said . . .

Saul Chaminuka, ZPC Kariba

I know people are thinking that I will get favours from Caps United because I am like a brother to Tau (Mangwiro), but that is not it; we are professionals.

We worked hard from the beginning of the season to be where we are today and we will try to come out with a good result to cap it all in style.

Luke Masomere, How Mine

I am satisfied with where we are; four wins and four draws is not bad for a coach who took over midway. When I got this job, I told the executive that I was building a team for next season and that is what I am doing.

As for the title, I think ZPC Kariba have won it . . . even when I am drinking my beer, thinking about football, I cannot stop believing that they are the 2014 champions. No one did them any favour; they won the title when they beat Dynamos at the National Sports a fortnight ago.

They came a long way, on their own and won’t need any huge favour from Masomere. After all, I work for How Mine, for the Masomere family and not for any other team or family.

Expect no favours from Masomere. Surely how can I help Kallisto Pasuwa or Saul (Chaminuka) build their own profiles when I have my own CV to protect? No. We are going to the NSS to play fairly and I am sure Caps United are also going to play to win against ZPC Kariba.

Murape Murape, Dynamos

We must not stop believing; we can still win the title. We have to win our own game against How Mine and then see what happens.

Moses Chunga, Buffaloes

There have been quite a number of challenges at Buffaloes this year, but I am hopeful we will survive relegation and rectify them before next season starts. We just have to be at our best against a very good Hwange side which is also fighting for a top five finish.

Gishon Ntini, Chiredzi FC

It is unfortunate we spent most of our time fighting in the boardroom and not on the pitch and we paid the price. It is sad Premiership football has been taken away from the people of Chiredzi. Against FC Platinum, I think it will be time to field those youngsters who did not get game time, it is their time to enjoy.

John Nyikadzino, Chapungu

It would have been difficult for us facing Highlanders at this stage of the season, but we are safe and relaxed because we know we will not be relegated.

The advantage is Triangle and Shabanie who are also involved in the relegation puzzle play each other and any result that comes out of that clash favours us.

As for Black Rhinos, I do not see them scoring 13 goals or more against Bantu Rovers should we lose against Bosso.

Generally, the season was good, an eye-opener.

Norman Mapeza, FC Platinum

I feel sorry for my fellow coaches who are fighting relegation, but such is the nature of the game. I just wish them all luck. We had a very fruitful run-in and as a club, we would want to finish the season strongly and maintain our top form.

Mark Mathe, Highlanders

Our season has not been good at all and it would be nice if we win this last match for our sponsors and supporters. Bosso is a big club and we should finish the season on a dignified note. We are also in with a chance to finish in the top five and will field a very strong team and see what happens.

Joey Antipas, Chicken Inn

Considering the squad we have and the way we play our football, we should have been up there. This last round of fixtures is always difficult, but exciting. We deserve to finish among the best five teams and for us to achieve that we have to get a positive result against Harare City.

Jairos Tapera, Shabanie Mine

There is so much confusion in the camp and I do not know what is going on. I think the club’s executive can explain better. The situation is really sad.

Nation Dube, Hwange

The season has really been tough and very competitive, which is good for the league. We blew some chances along the way and what we are left to fight for now is a top five finish.

It is not like we will just go to fulfil the fixture against Buffaloes. We have a lot to fight for; so, expect a tough battle.

Masimba Dinyero, Harare City

It is very unfortunate that we find ourselves fighting relegation, considering how attractive and competitive my team was, especially during the second half of the season.

We are not losing hope, though; everyone is geared up for the game against Chicken Inn and we are drawing confidence from the brilliant show we put up last weekend in the Chibuku Super Cup final.

If you look at it, we were the better side in most of the league games we lost and I am sure we will survive relegation.

Herbert Dick, Bantu Rovers

We have to end the season on a high.

Biggie Zuze, Triangle

We have to show character.

Tafadzwa Dube, Caps United

I am sorry, but we are going to disappoint our fans who would like to see us losing to ZPC Kariba so that Dynamos do not win the league. We are professionals and will play for maximum points.

Black Rhinos

Pressure appears to be taking its toll on the army side as their camp refused to field questions. Their coach Jostein Mathuthu also declined to entertain journalists following their 0-1 defeat to Chapungu in their last league match.

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