Shabanie Mine coach Luke Masomere says his team is now safe from relegation following the Chinda Boys’ 1-0 win over Harare City on Sunday. The triumph put them on the 26-point mark from 14 games.
At the start of the season Masomere declared that his main objective was to ensure the asbestos miners survived relegation.
Last season Shabanie struggled for form and fought relegation until the last day of the season when they beat Highlanders 2-1.
Presently Shabanie lies in second place, five points behind Highlanders, one ahead of FC Platinum and three ahead of defending champions Dynamos.
Despite Shabanie’s sensational run and their strong chase for the top spot, Masomere said he was not excited about his side’s title chances, but relieved that he had managed to steer the ship away from relegation.
“I am happy that I have survived relegation and that we will be playing Premiership football next season. My objective was to collect 25 points at the halfway mark of the season and I have just done that,” he said.
“I know we are close to catching up with the log leaders, but that is not my worry. For now, because we have survived the chop, my focus is playing football to ensure that we finish in a respectable position. Top eight will do for me.”
The maverick gaffer said he would not be moved by other teams’ performances, but will focus on his club.
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Shabanie Mine needed a 60th minute scrappy goal from Nelson Mazivisa to collect maximum points in their match against Harare City on Sunday.
Mazivisa has scored 12 goals in 14 matches and at this rate, he might double his tally by the end of the season.
Last season, Golden Boot winner Rodreck Mutuma managed 14 goals from 28 matches and this record could even be broken before the halfway mark.
The striker, who received a call to the Warriors camp for the Burundi 2013 Africa Cup of Nations second leg qualifier last month, is on loan from Platinum.
Last week, Platinum held a meeting with 11 players — all of whom are on loan with different clubs, with a view to bring back some of them — and Mazivisa could be on his way back to the team.
Top scorers 12 — Nelson Mazivisa (Shabanie) 7 — Takesure Chinyama (Dynamos) 6 — Rodwell Chinyengetere (Hwange), Ali Sadiki (FC Platinum) 5 — Mitchell Katsvairo (FC Platinum), Graham Ncube, Milton Ncube (Highlanders) 4 — Rodreck Mutuma (Dynamos), Dananai Chinowawa (Buffaloes), Leonard Fiyado (Gunners), Simon Munawa (Highlanders), Kuda Musharu (Monomotapa), Norman Togara (FC Platinum), Allen Gahadzikwa (FC Platinum)
