SHARON NYAYA
MBERENGWA – Three Mberengwa teams Blacks Eagles FC, Great Dyke FC and Mbesa FC are going into the mid-season break with the hope that one them will end the season as champions and join Division 1 football.
Two of the table toppers will also participate in the July Sino Zimbabwe champions 2023 Cup tournament at Midlands Agricultural show to be held in Gweru this weekend.
On 20 June 2023, all Midlands province D2 were notified of the tournament and how teams were going to be selected.
The letter reads, “We are pleased to inform you of that ZIFA Midlands Province will participate at Midlands Agricultural Show to be held from the 20th of July 2023 to 23rd of July 2023.
“As you are aware the, Association partnered Sino Zimbabwe Cement Company to sponsor the above mentioned cup every year. Please be advised that the 2023 Sino Zimbabwe Cement Company cup tournament format will not have preliminary stages of play-offs.
“The top 2 teams from the pool A and pool B with the highest number of points scored from all matches played at the end of first half of the season will participate at Midlands Show in Gweru.
“Kindly note that member clubs that are not in good standing in terms of payment of affiliation and match fees will not be allowed to participate in the tournament. In the event that the log leaders are not in good standing the Association will select the second ranked team that is fully paid up in terms of its statutory obligations.”
Leaders from the three teams in an interview with The Midweek Watch shared their experience of the first half of the season.
“We played well overally. We are on number 2 on the log standings, we lost our first game to Great Dyke (1-0) and we won our second game (2-1) against Mvuma, won 2-1 against Shurugwi, lost 1 nil against black eagles, won 2-1 against Jemise , drew 1 all against Siwawa, won 3-0 (walkover against chachacha) drew 1all against 13 stars , won 3 nil (walkover against Msu Zvish) and drew again 1 all against all stars Somabula and drew 1 all against stubborn Midlands FC. In all eleven matches we lost 2, drew 4 and won 5.
“The race is too tight because number 5 on the log is only 1 point behind the second placed team. In the 3 weeks break we should work hard so that we come back strong to earn more points.
“We are still in the race for promotion into D1 but we learnt that we were supposed to win all first games of the season in order to keep the momentum. Our main challenge remains financial, we still don’t have sponsorship. We are still looking for sponsorship, we want to bring Division 1 football to Mberengwa, we want to establish projects that will help us self-sustain,” remarked Mbesa FC director Neviel Zunde Manonose.
Table topper with 25points, Black Eagles FC team manager Wilbert Zveshure expressed his happiness as they are 6 points from the second placed team.
“Overally we had a good performance, leading the pack by 6 clear points, having won 8, drew 1 and lost 2 games. What I leant is that, hard work, discipline, oneness and determination are key to success.
“I also learnt not to count chickens before they are hatched, I’m talking of some games which we underrated our opponents before the game and how the results went thereafter.
“In the second half I expect a fierce response from other sides, therefore this window period will be used to bolster our squad in order to have depth,” said Zveshure.
Mberengwa Soccer Academy(Mbesa FC) technical director Tinomuonga Machona also said it has been a hectic 11 weeks and the boys have been up to the task with maximum support from the executive and promised to do better in the second half of the season.
