Martin Muleya
Mutare, Zimbabwe (News of The South) – Eastern Region Division One log leaders Tenax Fc’s dream to play in the top flight league of the country next season lies in their tricky encounters with Buffaloes and Mutare City Rovers outstanding matches.
Chauya Chikara as the team is affectionately known in football circles, was halted from creating a five point gap against Buffaloes when they were held to a goalless draw by fourth placed Masvingo United at Mucheke stadium last Sunday.
Blessing Madombi’s boys snatched a point on away match even though they have a good record of amassing maximum point at home and their quest for premiership glory will once again be put on litmust test at Vengere stadium this weekend.
Blessing Madombi , Tenax FC Head coach
Ndombolo as Buffaloes ar affectionately known are also praying that the football gods smile at them so they reduce the five point arrears they have on their fierce rival.
Meanwhile Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Eastern Region executive send a communique on the 7th of this month to all clubs, which this publication has in possession, directing that all week 27 matches had been temporarily postponed to allow outstanding fixtures to be fulfilled.
“On behalf of Zifa Eastern Region executive, please be advised that all week 27 fixtures have been postponed and are scheduled to be played on weekend of 26-27 October 2019.
“The postponement has been necessitated by the need to allow two outstanding fixtures between Masvingo United FC and Mutare City Fc as well as Tenax Fc and Buffaloes Fc to be played, so that all teams are at par in terms of matches played as we near the end of the season.
“May i also take this opportunity to advise that all the clubs in the top five positions on the log standing shall be required to play their matches at the same time on a particular day as advised by the office,” read the letter written by Farai Rutsvara Zifa Eastern Region secretary general and copied to Davison Muchena chairman and his deputy Wisdom Simba.
Tenax are leading with 57 points, Buffaloes trailing with four points behind.
Mutoko based FC Makaha who equally have a chance to snatch the premiership sole ticket are rooted on third position with 52 points after holding Buffaloes to 1-1 draw in Mutoko last weekend while Masvingo are settled on the fourth still trailing behind Tenax with a 14point arrears and Mutare City on the fifth position with 42 points.
The race now lies on the three top teams as they all equally stand a chance of getting the psl ticket should they win all the remaining five matches before the curtain comes down this season.
Tenax head coach Blessing Madombi who has been with the team for a record of three years maintained that he was not worried about looking at how other teams are performing but was concentrating on the results his boys will be posting.
“We want to concentrate on our results, that is the biggest issue now other than looking at how other teams are performing. In the remaining five matches we need to work on scoring. If we had scored against Masvingo United today (Sunday) we could have got three points clear with a game to spare. After Buffaloes we are playing Mutare City and for us that is also a tricky encounter as it is a home derby and we conclude our season on an away date with Ruwa United,” he said.
Madombi also noted that his biggest concern of late had been his side’s failure to put on a good run and picking up maximum points on away assignments though the team boasts of a good home record of picking up maximum points.
Ndombolo last tasted the beauty of playing in the domestic league of the country in 2014 while for the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service team it will be their first time since their inception in Eastern Region Division One league in 2014.
Fc Makaha if the football gods smile at them they will be the second team in the history of Eastern Region Division One league to make an automatic entry into the top flight league after Yadah Fc who snatched the sole ticket in 2017.
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