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Veronica Gwaze

Sports Reporter 

NGEZI PLATINUM are battling against the weight of expectation as their title defence has gotten off to a disappointing start. 

The champions already trail leaders Highlanders by eight points after just five matches and the two sides meet in the next round of fixtures at Baobab.

With just one win from the opening five matches, Ngezi Platinum are smarting from a 1-2 defeat away to GreenFuel on Saturday.  After the defeat, Chiragwi presided over a four-hour team talk in an effort to understand the challenges the players were facing.

Chiragwi believes that his charges have moments in which they lapse in concentration and get punished.

He however, believes they will soon start winning matches.

“I have nothing to take away from the games that they (players) are playing, you can see that they want the points, but in some few moments, they mentally drift away from the game.

“The opponents make use of the chances they create, while we fluff with ours… like we are not anticipating in most cases.  We need to introspect on the psychological aspect,” said Chiragwi.

The 2023 Castle Lager Coach of the Year believes his young squad returned from the offseason with pressure to defend their title.

“We are not in a very good situation but still in with a chance of making it to the championship race again. I have faith in the boys because I know what they are capable of doing.

“We had the same scenario last season yet we went on to win the championship. We are still in a good position hence I do not want to pressure the boys, “ he said. 

When Chiragwi was handed a three-year contract in 2022, following the departure of Rodwell Dhlakama, his mandate was to build a squad that would win the Premiership title in 2025.

He won it in 2023 but there some who believe it was a fluke achievement.

“I have learnt to live with it. Maybe I was never meant to be celebrated because all I know is persecution and criticism.

“I would have left around that time but I have a deep passion that drives me to an extent that I often have to smile, even in the faces of my critics, just for my boys to flourish.

“Generally that is what football is all about. You stand for what you love and fight for it. We (Ngezi) are doing everything that we can so that, soon, we will get back on our feet.”

To ease his charges of pressure ahead of their game against Highlanders at Baobab this weekend, he released players from camp to give them time to refresh.

“Now we are preparing for the next game. We will be at home, we should bring our confidence back and be in our best form.

“I gave them sometime off so that they come back with renewed energy. This is not going to be an easy task for us, we need the positivity.

“I know how it feels like to be a player and not win games.”

Chiragwi’s April fixtures 

13 April: v Highlanders (Baobab) 

21 April: v Hwange (Colliery)

24 April: v Yadah (Baobab) 

28 April: v Dynamos (Rufaro)