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GUNNING FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP . . . Gunners coach Kudakwashe Masaraure stresses a point during an interview with The Saturday Herald yesterday

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
FOR Gunners, when the season began, they were just hoping to use the competition to build a team that would fight for promotion into the Premier Soccer league next season.
However, the team appears to have performed beyond expectations in the World Navi Division One league, especially considering that they had to fight relegation last season.

The Division One side is a franchise owned by Prophet Walter Magaya, whose dream is to create a unique religious team that could be the biggest football club in the country.

They are currently leading the race with 40 points.
They have won 12 matches, drawn four and lost just one game to Bindura United, which was their opening match for the season.

And, maybe, the fact that they had to fight relegation last season and started their campaign on a losing note might have added to the idea that they needed more time to build a competitive side.

But the former Premiership champions are currently enjoying a good run and their coach, Kudakwashe Masaraure, said they had not imagined leading the championship race at some point.

“When we started, our mission was to build a strong team to contest in the next season so that we will be able to play in the Premiership in 2016.
“We never thought we would be leading the race by this time but because of the grace of God we are now contesting for the championship.

“From what I have seen as a coach we are no longer building. We were saying if we get promotion it’s a bonus but because of God we are now contesting for the championship.

“The competition is tough because we are leading by three points so we have to brace up for the second half and work harder than we did in the first half.
“We know the second half will be tight,” said Masaraure.

Masaraure said they have added some new players to the team but have retained most of their players as they feel making too many changes will affect them.
They have taken Munyaradzi Chiwaradza from Chiredzi, Tafadzwa Jaji from Chegutu Pirates and Everson Feremba from Seven Flames on board.

“We won’t change anything in terms of how we have been working because it can affect the team and put the players under pressure. We believe what have done in first half is what has seen us achieving this and we will continue with that.

“We have about three players from Seven Flames, Chegutu and Chiredzi. I think those three will add value to the team because our team has been doing well in the first round.

“Sometimes, if you take a lot of players, it will disturb the rhythm that is already there because in soccer you need working combinations.
“So you may take five best players from different clubs but it may be difficult to create good combinations,” said Masaraure.

Gunners have also taken back their former players, Lloyd Masakusa and Munyaradzi Chiwaradza.
Masaraure said their executive president, Cuthbert Chitima, has played a big part in ensuring the team produces good results by unveiling the needed resources.

“I have a good working relationship with Prophet Walter Magaya and our president, Cuthbert Chitima, they have faith in me,” said Masaraure.
“I don’t have any problems with them because they understand football dynamics. Even if we lose or we draw they encourage us to just correct our mistakes.

“We don’t have any problems financially, the prophet and the president are contributing a lot because the guys are getting their money on time and everything they need. Most clubs are struggling and sometimes players boycott training because of money but for us all is well, their salaries and winning bonus come on time.

“The prophet even comes to our training sessions to encourage the boys so it motivates the players because if you look at someone like Prophet Magaya, he is a busy man and it’s difficult to meet him one on-one-but for us we can see him any time.”

He said they were now the centre of the focus.
“Right now all eyes are on us because of the prophet, people will be following our results and some are just looking for the negative things and that is also pushing our players because we have a name to protect, Prophet Magaya, so we need to protect that name.

“We believe the Church has played a vital part in our results because if you look at it, we lost our first match to Bindura United and I think everyone was ruling us out but now people will realise that by the grace of God we can achieve anything.

“We go to church as a team and we don’t see anything stopping us, of course, in soccer sometimes you are at your peak and sometimes things just don’t work out but we will try to make things happen. With God I think we can maintain our position,” said Masaraure.

Although they are the current leaders, Gunners should expect stiff competition from teams like Flame Lilly, who are just three points behind, as well as newcomers Bindura United sitting on third position.