We are down not out: Mutare City

CHARMED by their fine run in recent matches, Mutare City Rovers team manager Lyndon Kanyemba believes that his team might be languishing deep in the drop zone but it is too early to write them off.

KANYEMBA reckons their destiny in this battle for survival, is still in their hands. Mutare City Rovers, who performed a giant killing act when they dismissed championship chasing Ngezi Platinum by a solitary goal at Vengere Stadium on Sunday in Rusape, have suddenly regained form in their recent league assignments which saw the Municipality owned outfit edging an equally struggling Shabanie Mine 2-1 at home.

City Rovers then lost 3-2 away to troublesome Bulawayo Chiefs in a result that showed determination and character for Rovers albeit ending in a loss.

Kanyemba believes that their opponents can only underestimate them in their remaining assignments at their own peril.

They face league defending champions and log leaders FC Platinum tomorrow (Saturday) away at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane.

“Yes, people might say we have not been playing so well in most of our matches because they look at result and that is normal. However, I am of the opinion that we have not been playing so badly. If you look at it closely it was just our failure to convert and it had more to do with low morale and just being unlucky.

“We have suddenly upped the tempo and the two results from the previous two matches speak volumes of the determination that we now have in camp.

“We hope to continue with the fine form and most probably be able to collect points that will see us evade relegation. I think we are down but we are not yet out of the league. We still have a chance to survive. Our opponents in the can only underestimate them in their remaining assignments at their own peril,” said Kanyemba, who is part of an unusual two-man technical department together with coach Ndega Matsika.

Triumph over Ngezi Platinum on Sunday at Vengere meant that City Rovers take their tally to 18 and ensure they still enjoy not only a mathematical but realistic chance to survive relegation.

Among some of their remaining assignments, Mutare City Rovers still have to face Triangle, Yadah, Bulawayo City, Herentals, Chicken Inn, Dynamos, CAPS United and ZPC Kariba.

Kanyemba says it is no longer about the calibre of the team that they will be playing against but the better team of the day wins at this stage of the season.

“It is no longer the calibre of the team that you play against at this stage of the season. Every team now wants to collect as many points as they can. The determination is a notch higher.

“The reason being that at this stage of the season, every team want to ensure that they achieve their targets which could be escaping relegation, ending the season on a respectable position of winning the league championship. Therefore the hunger for points is the same everywhere,” said Kanyemba.

Saturday: Bulawayo Chiefs FC v Black Rhinos FC (Luveve Stadium); FC Platinum v Mutare City Rovers FC (Mandava Stadium); Harare City FC v Herentals FC (Rufaro Stadium); Chapungu FC v Triangle United FC (Ascot Stadium); Yadah FC V Chicken Inn FC (National Sports Stadium); ZPC Kariba FC v Shabanie Mine FC (Nyamhunga Stadium); Bulawayo City FC v Dynamos FC (Barbourfields Stadium):

Sunday: Caps United FC v Nichrut FC (National Sports Stadium); Highlanders FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars FC (Barbourfields Stadium):