Ngezi’s scientific dashboard
AS TONDERAI Ndiraya braces for his 60th league game in charge of Ngezi Platinum Stars this afternoon, his scientific approach to the game cannot escape the eye. There is something special about the Mhondoro side’s storming start to the 2018 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Ngezi Platinum Stars play Shabanie Mine at Maglas this afternoon on the back of five straight wins and five clean sheets — one of the best starts by any club since the inception of Premiership football 26 years ago.
Last weekend Madamburo extended their unbeaten run at their home ground Baobab to 26 matches after a last minute 1-0 win over Chicken Inn.
In total Ndiraya has now taken charge of 59 league matches, winning 33, drawing 14 and losing 12.
He has amassed 113 out of a possible 179 which translates to a 63,8 percent success rate since joining Ngezi Platinum Stars on June 16, 2016.
“Discipline in and outside the field, a strong belief as well as hard work has taken the team to where it is today,” Ndiraya told The Sunday Mail Sports in a wide-ranging interview during the week.
After finishing third last season the 40-year old Ndiraya has been tasked with bringing the 2018 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title to Mhondoro.
His team has made no secret of their mission this term — five wins, 15 points, seven goals and five clean sheets in 472 minutes of football.
But Ndiraya, as cool as ever, refuses to blow his own trumpet, noting that it early days yet and that success in football is a team effort.
“These are early times. A rough and bumpy road lies ahead,” he cautiously says.
The irresistible Caps United of 2004, which lost once en route to the club’s third ever league championship, won their first nine league games before being held to a 0-0 draw by Kwekwe Cables.
In 2006, eventual champions Highlanders won 10 straight games at the start of the season but were stopped by Motor Action in Week 11.
Joey Antipas then guided Motor Action to five consecutive wins at the beginning of 2010, as the now defunct Mighty Bulls cruised to their first and only league title.
Whereas the Caps United side of 2004 conceded four times in their first five games, Highlanders three in 2006 and Motor Action once in 2010, Ndiraya’s Ngezi are yet to concede in their opening five games. And it’s not a coincidence. Ndiraya has built mean machine and science is at the centre of it all.
They have gone scientific at red-hot Ngezi Platinum Stars where team analyst Calvin Mavhunga, an Information Technology (IT) expert and statistician, has become a critical member of Ndiraya’s backroom staff.
Video analysis of previous games are conducted during the week and individual player performances are monitored through a sophisticated performance
“There are different kinds of dishes that are served to players depending on whether they are preparing for a match, or they want to go for training.
“Usually on match days we serve pasta. Why? Because it’s easy to digest. Mostly it’s spaghetti and white meat especially chicken at least two hours before the game.” (Team chef) (Team analyst)