Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
NGEZI Platinum Stars skipper, Qadr Amini, feels the battle for the Premiership title has entered its most delicate phase.
The miners are hoping to make history as the first club from Mashonaland West to be crowned league champions in this country.
They hold a one-point lead over Highlanders and face ZPC Kariba in their next match at Nyamhunga on Saturday.
This is a team they walloped 4-0 in the reverse fixture at Baobab but a lot has changed since then.
ZPC Kariba are yet to taste defeat since they started hosting their matches at Nyamhunga with the Luke Masomere team even stopping Highlanders and beating Herentals in recent weeks.
“The intensity of the games coming now will be different from what we have faced,” said Amini.
“Teams in the bottom half of the table need the points and so are those in the top half.
“It’s now about meeting set targets and objectives. This is the most difficult stretch in the race. We have talked about it and we always talk about it with my teammates.
“We need to be meticulous in every situation if we are to remain competitive at this stage.
“The competition will be stiffer, so we need to take care of every situation because at this level even the smallest thing can cost you the title or a spot in the top-four.”
Chiragwi insists his players should not get carried away.
“This is a competition and being on top of the log at this point of the race means nothing. We are only a point above the team in second place (Highlanders).
“There is a need to stay grounded.
“Our aim is to have a team that can compete consistently. I am happy we have been showing that we can compete.
“But the race is still a long way to go so we need to put in the work with maximum concentration.”
Fixtures
Saturday
GreenFuel v Simba Bhora (GreenFuel Arena)
FC Platinum v Herentals (Mandava)
Chicken Inn v Triangle (Luveve)
Yadah v Bulawayo Chiefs (Baobab)
ZPC Kariba v Ngezi Platinum (Nyamhunga)
Sheasham v Cranborne Bullets (Bata)
Sunday
Black Rhinos v Manica Diamonds (Bata)
Dynamos v CAPS United (NSS)
Hwange v Highlanders (Colliery)