Can Ngezi stand the Hwange heat?

A CASTLE LAGER Premier Soccer League fixture featuring Hwange against Ngezi Platinum Stars at the Colliery would ordinarily pass without notice.

But the meeting between these two mining sides today will likely hog all the attention.

Ngezi are chasing a maiden championship title, while Hwange are still not completely safe from relegation. The encounter will, thus, be keenly followed by the chasing pack behind Ngezi, which includes Manica Diamonds, Dynamos, FC Platinum and Highlanders.

Teams such as Sheasham, Green Fuel, CAPS United, Yadah Stars, Triangle, Black Rhinos and Cranborne Bullets — which are fighting for survival — will be eager to know how Hwange will fare against the log leaders.

Ngezi, at 57 points, enjoy a seven-point lead over second-placed Manica Diamonds.

But they would have to overcome the searing Hwange heat — expected to peak at 40 degrees by the time the game kicks off — in their quest to win three of their remaining five games to reach the Promised Land.

The Mhondoro platinum miners could, in fact, be crowned champions next weekend if they manage to collect maximum points against Hwange today, Sheasham midweek and then Simba Bhora.

“Football has always been a game of pressure and we are now used to it, and everyone is calm going into the match,” said Ngezi skipper Qadr Amini.

This will be the fourth Premiership meeting between the two teams at the Colliery, where Hwange enjoy a better head-to-head record.

The coalminers have won twice, lost once and drawn once. Ngezi’s sole win at the Colliery — 3-0 — was achieved on April 4, 2017.

But in a fruitful season for them this year, the miners have lost only four games out of 14 on the road, while winning six and drawing four. “Our approach has been the same throughout the season, whether we play home or away. “Hwange is a good team, especially when they are at home.

“We are not worried much about history but on what we do on the day, hence we are not reading much into our previous meetings.

We don’t read much of the history. Hwange is a good team, no doubt. We look for a positive result,” added Amini.

Ngezi have been camped in nearby Victoria Falls since Thursday.

“In terms of the weather conditions, we are aware that it will be hot and we know what to expect, thanks to the club, which ensured that we can acclimatise to the weather conditions here in Victoria Falls since the temperatures are almost similar.

“But again, we are not worried about things we cannot change, and all we can do is to focus on things we can control; that is to put up a good show on Sunday (today).”

Amini, who won a league championship with Gunners in 2009 as a 16-year-old, indicated that the team’s senior players have been guiding the youngsters, especially as the season is now in the homestretch.

He has also led from the front by scoring seven goals and providing as many assists.

“True, this has been the best season and my target has been to improve the team on and off the field as a captain,” he said.