Saruchera a happy man Nesbert Saruchera
Nesbert Saruchera

Nesbert Saruchera

Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
AFTER more than a decade of trying and failing, prisons outfit Flame Lilly finally got it right and sensationally booked their place in the Premiership, leaving coach Nesbert “Yabo” Saruchera in Dreamland. Flame Lilly were crowned the World Navi Northern Region champions after shaking off the challenge of bookmakers’ favourites Gunners with the prison warders sealing their finest hour with a 2-0 win over ZRP Football Club on Saturday.

It had taken Flame Lilly 12 years and a number of coaches to try and win promotion without success.

But the arrival of Saruchera, who cut his coaching teeth at Black Rhinos, heralded a change of fortunes for Flame Lilly and the outspoken coach yesterday described the triumph as a dream come true.

Flame Lilly ensured they booked their ticket to the Premiership via a Prosper Chinyama brace that also rendered irrelevant Gunners’ 2-0 win over Bindura United at Chipadze.

Saruchera said their promotion is a big achievement that came at the right time having missed on the title several times.

“We feel happy, it’s a very big achievement. We have been waiting for this for a long time and the guys were ready waiting for that moment. So we knew we were going to wrap it up on Saturday. We were very confident going into the game.

“What also helped us get the promotion into the Premier league is that we had support from our sponsors, BancEASY’’.

Saruchera felt they had built their successful campaign on the back of a solid defence and a strong back room staff for him. “Our defence was effective, they we were outstanding this year and also the fighting spirit and solid technical team made up of my assistant coaches, Masimba Mutame, Maxwell Chipfuku, Tepatepa Marufu and Arthur Gurijena, who was part of the technical team,” said Saruchera.

In the see-saw battle that characterised the race for promotion, the prison officers took over the lead from favourites Gunners with just six games left, leading by just a point before getting some breathing space when they extended the lead to three points.

“Of course teams were changing on top but we knew our chances were going to come and we were very happy when we got on top leading by just one point,” said Saruchera.

Saruchera, however, said he is yet to decide on his future as his contract expires at the end of the year but would be ready for the challenge in the Premiership if the opportunity comes his way.

“I am waiting for that challenge. I have not decided on my future but I don’t think I will be going to Division One,’’ Saruchera said.

Flame Lilly secretary-general, Alfred Machingauta commended the team for their patience and hard work.

“It’s all about hard work and the support from our sponsor, BancEASY.

“It has been outstanding and we want to them so much because morale was always high in camp because the boys were paid their salaries and winning bonuses on time.

“We had a strategic plan starting by getting promotion, then earmarked 2015 to stabilise ourselves in the league and from there start challenging for the title. We have communicated that to our sponsors and they are in support.

“This was our 12th year, we had been fighting for the championship for a long time and on quite a number of times we were second. Last year we finished second, we were always there fighting with the big guys for honours. So it was a matter of time,” said Machingauta.

The Flame Lilly secretary-general also applauded the referees for the level of professionalism they displayed throughout the season.

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