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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
NGEZI Platinum will be hoping to maintain their fine run today when they take on Mushowani Stars in a World Navi Northern Region Division One soccer league tie at Baobab.
Coach Clifton “Somalia” Kadurira and his men, who are making their debut appearance in Division One, have been a team on the rise in recent weeks.

And Kadurira said they want to close the gap between them and the log leaders.

“Preparations have been going on well and I am looking forward to this game,” said the former Blackpool defender.

“Everyone is ready for the game.

“Since we have been playing well, we are going for another set of three points to close the gap between us and the log leaders.

“We are treating every game as it comes, any team can win now, even those at the bottom can cause upsets.”

The Ngezi Platinum coach recently hailed his team for the progress they are making in the league.

They have managed to collect 10 points in the past four games, having last lost to Starbill in the first week of June.

While Ngezi seem to have struck the right chord in their quest for success, they should brace for a stiff challenge from Mushowani whose coach Paul “Popopo” Chimalizeni is eager for a win today.

“It’s a must-win for us because we don’t need to drop points anymore,” said Chimalizeni.

“We are more than ready for the game. We want to continue from where we left against Bindura because we have perfected our finishing.

“I am confident we will win.

“We are not taking anything away from them, we know they have been playing well of late and we are not underrating them.

“We have respect for them. But for us as a team it’s high time we start winning because we have not been consistent like when we started.

“We talked to them (players) and told them our shortcomings and corrected those aspects. The guys are geared up, they are fired up and morale is high.”

He revealed that their leadership has been rallying behind the team.

“They were promised a winning bonus against Bindura and when we got a draw they were given what they were promised even though we drew,” said Popopo.

“Surely, that’s a motivation for the player.

“As a coach I keep encouraging them to work extra hard.

“The executive have done their part and now as a team let’s do our part, let’s deliver so that the executive keeps on supporting us.”

The Mushowani coach said complacency has been the cause of their recent slump.

“What affected us is that the guys were getting carried away after beating every team we were playing in the league.

“And complacency was the main problem. They thought that we can beat any team so they relaxed and were in the comfort zone.

“But the way things have been going of late has been a wake-up call,” said Popopo. Mushowani were held to a goalless draw at home by Bindura United last week.