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Tonderai Ndiraya

Sports Reporter
NGEZI Platinum Stars coach Tonderayi Ndiraya feels the Premier Soccer League mid-season break may have come at the “wrong time” for his side as he feels the newboys had gathered some momentum.

The platinum miners, who had a bad start in their debut season, have not lost a match in the last five matches since the arrival of the former Dynamos player and coach.

Ndiraya has started his tenure brightly after leading the side to four wins and a draw.

“To us this break came at the wrong time because I feel we have been doing well. And for us to go two weeks without games might break the momentum.

“But because of professional reasons, it’s good since the players also need rest to regenerate their energy reserves and to recover from the various knocks they may have picked up,” said Ndiraya.

Ngezi Platinum have risen from the bottom half to seventh on the log standings at the time the break was effected.

Ndiraya said they are still looking to continue working hard to achieve their goals.

They beat David Mandigora’s Triangle at Baobab in their last match and they will face the same team again this Sunday at Gibbo as the second round matches begin.

“Given that we have done well in the last five games, our opponents will not take us lightly. So we expect a lot of teams to be well prepared when they come up against us.

“It’s not going to be an easy journey given that many teams are beefing up now. We are a new team in the league and we are still learning the ropes. But the good thing is that the team is now beginning to believe.

“Our aim from the beginning was to survive relegation and nothing has changed. We don’t want to fool ourselves that because we are seventh on the log standings then we are safe from relegation.

“We still need to work hard and continue picking up points,” said Ndiraya.

The platinum miners have taken on board CAPS United goalkeeper Chris Mverechena on loan and the former Dynamos duo of Kelvin Bulaji and Walter Mukanga.

Mverechena came as direct replacement for goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira, who returned to his team Buffaloes together with forward Takunda Jeffrey.

Ndiraya said they are looking to use the transfer window to beef up.

“We already have identified the replacement for Mwandimutsira, but we still want a central defender and a defensive midfielder because I feel we fall short in those areas,” said Ndiraya.

Their opponents, Triangle, will cut their break short tomorrow when they travel to Highlanders for a rescheduled fixture.

Highlanders will also use the match to set the tone for the top of the table clash against CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium this Sunday.

Bosso won the reverse fixture leg 1-0 at Barbourfields last week and they should be bracing for a possible backlash from the Harare giants.

Tsholotsho and Mutare City will also clear their backlog at Luveve tomorrow.

Fixtures

Tomorrow:

Highlanders v Triangle (Barbourfields), Tsholotsho v Mutare City (Luveve)

Saturday:

Chicken Inn v Harare City (White City), How Mine v Border Strikers (Luveve), ZPC Kariba v Dynamos (Nyamhunga), Mutare City Rovers v Chapungu (Sakubva)

Sunday:

Bulawayo v FC Platinum (Luveve), Hwange v Tsholotsho (Colliery), Triangle v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Gibbo), CAPS United v Highlanders (National Sports Stadium)