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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
AFTER appointing a new technical team last week, Mushowani Stars are hoping to step up their pre-season preparations as they seek to assemble a team that will challenge for the Northern Region Division One soccer league title this year.

Club secretary, Jestina Mutasa, said they have set their eyes on the championship and are willing to go all the way to motivate their players to deliver.

The Mashonaland Central-based side has already begun preparing for the season and had to move quickly to appoint a new coach after Paul “Popo” Chimalizeni left for ZPC Kariba early last week.

The team will be under the guidance of Solomon Mudavanhu, who will be assisted by Ikarbot Masocha in their campaign for promotion when the season kicks-off.

“We are going to aim high when the season begins, we don’t want draws, we want to win home and away. And we are going to motivate our players more than last year.

“Our target this year is to get into the Premiership and we think we can achieve that, we are definite on that. Both coaches are experienced coaches with history in football and they know what they are doing,” said Mutasa.

Mutasa said they expect Mudavanhu to be with the team on a full-time basis, starting from today, and their immediate task is to identify the players they need to beef up the team.

“Mudavanhu has already started work but he is going to be full-time starting Monday (today) because right now he was somewhere.

“For now I can’t say we have new players since the coaches are just coming in. They are the ones that are going to choose who they want in the team. However, with the players we had last year I think we are okay. We know the players and we believe in them, we believe they can do the job for us,” said Mutasa.

Mushowani finished third last year behind eventual winners, Flame Lily, and second-placed Gunners.