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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
NEWLY-APPOINTED ZRP FC coach Arthur Tutani said he is ready to take the team to another level when the Zifa Northern Region Division One Soccer League season kicks-off.

Tutani crossed the floor from relegated Blue Swallows to join the former Premiership club and says it’s a good move being with an ambitious team that is seeking to win the championship.

“I have moved to ZRP FC, it’s good for football because I am a man of football, I drink, eat and sleep soccer.

“I belong in the top-flight which is the Premiership, Division One and a little bit of Division Two.

“My move was a good move because ZRP FC wants to be promoted, they have been complaining that they have been in Division One for a while and they want to return to the Premier League.

“I am not saying they will be back into the league because I am with them now.

“But we are going to work hard and play good entertaining football, hopefully, by the end of the year we will finish in the top three,” said Tutani.

Tutani took over from Thulani Sibanda, who left the club last year at the end of the season, and says he won’t be controlled by pressure in their quest for success.

”I am used to it because at one stage I was at Sporting Lions and they wanted to play in the Premiership and they made it into the Premiership, they won the championship.

“From Sporting Lions I went to Monomotapa, who also wanted to play in the Premiership. I was at Mwana Africa and they said we want you to take the team to the highest level of football and we won the championship.

“So there is no pressure I am used to it. People have expectations but I am not supposed to be controlled by expectations.

“I will try my level best to take the team to the Premiership. We have to work and then see what happens by the end of the year rather than playing under pressure.

“We have some new guys that are training with us but at the moment I am not at liberty to disclose who is coming because we have not yet clinched the deals yet,” said Tutani.

Tutani said the competition in the Northern Region league is likely to be tougher than last year as most teams seek to earn the ticket to the top-flight league.

“It’s going to be a difficult year because so many teams want to be promoted. There is Black Rhinos, Ngezi Platinum, Gunners and Mushowani, I think there are about seven clubs that want to be promoted.

“But I can say preparations have been going on well and the response from the senior players who were with the team before is very good.

“They are very supportive, they want to play and they also want the youngsters to fit into the team. They want to be back in the Premiership and even the officials they are very supportive,” said Tutani.

ZRP FC, formerly Black Mambas, were relegated from the Premiership in 2013 and this will be their second year in the First Division since they were relegated.