City Rovers relegated

FELLOW Eastern Region outfit Triangle put the final nail on Mutare City Rovers’ coffin when the Chiredzi team defeated the municipality outfit by a solitary goal to seal Mutare club’s journey back to Division One football with three rounds of league matches remaining.

Gusha Bhora, who learnt nothing about Premiership survival after they were relegated following a one year stint in the top flight league at the end of the 2016 season, join Shabanie Mine who were the first to be relegated.

Coach Ndega Matsika was left to fight a lone battle as the club failed to find replacement for the post of head coach.

Matsika said they tried their best on the field of play under very difficult circumstances.

“I think we did the best of what we could given the prevailing circumstances at City Rovers. I love the club and my players also love the club but unfortunately we had to make do with very, very limited resources. I cannot say we were a bad side. We pro- duced some results that showed potential but unfortunately we were competing against well financed clubs unlike ourselves. The decision on where we go from here lies with administrators but my hope is that we will re-strategise and fight our way back,” said Matsika.

Given limited financial resources that led to unending player unrest cases in Mutare City Rovers camp and disinterested administrative approach, the writing has always been on the wall for Gusha Bhora.

The recent two-week break that came with Chibuku Super Cup quarter final matches as well as the international break would have been ample time for a normal club to strategise ways to escape relegation, but for Mutare City Rovers it has been a window period for disgruntled players to embark on industrial action as they continued demanding their dues.

Rovers have endured a tough season where they have so far managed just five wins from 31 matches and for the greater part of the campaign they have barely looked like they would lift themselves out of the relegation zone.