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Ray Bande Mutare Bureau
BUFFALOES and Mutare City Rovers maintained their lead at the summit of the Eastern Region Division One log standings after collecting maximum points in their league matches during the weekend.

Log leaders Buffaloes got the better of Mukanya Bullets 2-1 at Rudhaka Marondera, thanks to Elton Dzumbunu and Tristern Chabwana’s goals.

The victory ensured the Mutare side continue to enjoy a four-point lead in the race.

Goals from Evans Chikwaikwai, Stephen ‘Dealer’ Sibanda and Watch Mafa were all that Mutare City Rovers needed to outplay stubborn Prime Rangers at Sakubva.

They beat Prime Rangers 3-1 to remain in second position.

City Rovers still have a game in hand from their aborted league encounter against Mucheke Pirates in Masvingo.

The ZIFA Eastern Region administrators have ordered the two teams to play the remaining minutes of that encounter.

Buffaloes’ gaffer Shadreck “Father’’ Mugurasave, the man who led the same team into the Premiership in 2010, said he was happy with his men’s performance and results.

“I think we are getting the results that we want week in week out. We have made it clear that we want Premiership promotion and my players are dedicated to achieving that.

“I am really happy with the squad that I have, the performance on the field of play and, more importantly, the results that we are getting.

“It is not easy to win matches away from home especially when you are playing teams that also have the potential to challenge for honours such as Mukanya Bullets.

“I think the race for the championship will be tightly contested this season. Any team among those in the top seven can go all the way. It is still early days yet to say which team among those in the top seven can finally make it,” he said.

Mutare City Rovers team manager, Lyndon Kanyemba, said all his team want is to keep collecting points and ensure that Mutare gets a resident Premiership team.

“We just want to keep collecting maximum points. That is the only way we can fight for Premiership promotion. We are confident that we will give our competitors in this race a good run for their money.

“As Mutare City Rovers, we are mainly focused on bringing back Premiership football to Mutare. We do not care whether it is Buffaloes, Mutare City or Tenax, all we want is that Mutare must have a team of its own in the top flight league,” said Kanyemba.

Mutare was left without a resident Premiership outfit following the demotion of municipality owned Mutare City Rovers on the final day of the 2016 Castle Lager Premiership season.

During his recent tour of sports facilities in Manicaland, Minister of Sports Makhosini Hlongwane bemoaned the inconsistency of Mutare football teams.

Minister Hlongwane

“What we have here is what I would call spasms of brilliance. This year we have Buffaloes in the Premiership, the next year they are out. We have another team, Mutare City Rovers, and the following year they are out. We do not need that.

“We really want Mutare to have a team if not two that stay in the Premiership and give residents here football entertainment,” said Hlongwane.