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Mutare City Rovers confident of PSL stay

Sport
MUTARE City Rovers Football Club are not entertaining thoughts of relegation, although they anticipate a tough debut season in the Castle lager Premier Soccer League.

MUTARE City Rovers Football Club are not entertaining thoughts of relegation, although they anticipate a tough debut season in the Castle lager Premier Soccer League.

BY HENRY MHARA

Their Premiership status was only confirmed last week after Zifa threw out a complaint by Masvingo United, who alleged that City Rovers had used unregistered players last year.

While the boardroom squabbles were ongoing, Mutare City Rovers continued with their preparations undeterred ahead of the season, which is expected to begin at the end of March.

soccer

They have been busy in the transfer market, snapping up a number of players, some of whom have top-flight experience.

Club’s chief of protocol Benjamin Chindima yesterday confirmed deals involving former FC Platinum star Steven Sibanda, Mike Nyamusaka and Patrick Alifas, who were with Buffaloes last season, former Dynamos goalkeeper Phillip Nhete, who played for relegated WhaWha last year, Manuel Sinaiputa and Last Jesi from Dongo Sawmill and Chasten Ndongonda, who has joined from Triangle.

They also raided Division One side Mutoko Traders for Manuel Meleka, while the trio of Derby Duri, Simbarashe Gadaga and Kudakwashe Dururu have signed from Masvingo United.

“We have made some good signings, where we have prioritised youth and ability over big names,” Chindima said.

“I think we will have a very competent squad that will not be relegated and that the community will feel proud of and appreciate,” he said.

“We are still pursuing Roy Mwenga, Kudzai Mwaramba and Farai Banda, who were with Buffaloes last season. The negotiations are on and we are hopeful of positive results.”

From last year’s squad, the team has retained 13 players including former Dynamnos striker, Dylan Chivandire and Collen Muzawawi, Bonvolio Mukwena and Honest Muzhara.

The Isdore Bingura-led club know they have their work cut out for them if they are to avoid relegation, and Chindima is full of confidence they will stay up.

“I know there are some who are not giving us a chance. We will also not pretend that it’s going to be easy out there for a new team like us, as we will be going against very good and experienced teams, but I want to assure all the supporters of Mutare City Rovers that we will not go down. We have a duty to put Mutare on the map and I know we can overcome any challenge if we stand together as management, players, coaches, our sponsors and most importantly our fans.”