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UPBEAT ABOUT SURVIVAL . . . Yadah Stars consultant Wellington Mpandare (right) believes the club owned
by Prophet Walter Magaya (left) and whose chief executive is Admire Mango (centre) will not be relegated

Sports Reporter
FIVE games into this Castle Lager Premiership season, Yadah Stars found themselves on top of the table amid high hopes they could shake the top-flight league’s establishment. However, with five matches left to the end of the season, the Harare side are fighting for the right to remain in the league for another season. They have their fate in their hands, which is something they can draw a lot of comfort from, and they have been playing very well in recent matches, in fact, so well they have turned themselves into one of the teams to beat.

Today, Yadah Stars host a How Mine side, who appear to have lost interest in the league and are now focusing on trying to win the Chibuku Super Cup, at Rufaro. A win for Yadah, and coupled with favourable results elsewhere, could see them even moving closer to the top eight. ‘‘I think Yadah are in a good position to survive and the fact that they have their fate in their hands is important,’’ the club’s consultant Wellington Mpandare told The Herald.

‘‘The How Mine game and the Bulawayo City game, which follows, all at home, are very important and could be very decisive in determining our fate. You can’t doubt the quality of players that we have at this team and there is a determination among everyone involved that we get it right. The prophet (Walter Magaya, the owner of the club) has been very supportive and given his passion for football, it will be a very sad day if the club was relegated even though he says he will not be lost to the game because he will still be involved with helping the Warriors because, for him, the country will always come first.’’

Mpandare expects a very tough battle against How Mine but believes Yadah have the personnel to win today’s match. ‘‘I think the boys are refreshed now after a punishing schedule that saw them playing too many tough games away from home and they could do well in this match.’’