H-Metro Reporter
SEASONED gaffer, Arthur ‘Tuts’ Tutani marked his return in the ZIFA Northern Region Division One League by helping his Shamva Mine FC claim a 3-1 win over PAM FC on Saturday.
This victory also boosted the Shamva side’s survival hopes as they now sit just a point above the red zone.
Tutani has proved to be a genius in this league, helping three different clubs gain promotion to the PSL.
He joined Shamva Mine from Simba Bhora where he ended his union on mutual consent.
And his task is to maintain the club’s Northern Region status, something which the club has failed each time it gets promoted.
League leaders, Black Mambas, stretched their unbeaten run to 18 games after settling for a 1-1 draw against Golden Eagles.
The point took John ‘Toto’ Ncube’s men to 38 points and Mark Mathe’s Gondo Harishaye remain out of the top five with 29 points.
Second-placed Harare City did themselves a favour by edging Richard Chunga’s Chinhoyi Stars 2-1 to reduce the deficit to three points.
The Sunshine Boys are making a good statement for a quick return to the top-flight league.
And the club’s coach, Joseph ‘Shabba’ Takaringofa, also deserves credit for motivating his men to keep pace with Warumwa Warumwa despite reports that the players have not been paid for the better part of the campaign.
Some even left the club to join PSL suitors after the intervention of the Footballers Union of Zimbabwe.
Paul Benza’s Herentals Under-20 humbled MWOS FC 1-0 to remain within striking distance.
It appears Lloyd Mutasa is losing grip in the championship marathon as he is now nine points adrift of the log leaders.
The Students are five points off the mark and are emerging as favourites to spoil the party for Black Mambas should they continue with their fine form.
Ngezi Platinum Stars’ developmental side, hammered struggling Concession United 6-0 at Baobab.
The Northern Region is really proving to be a different beast for the newly promoted side which is yet to record a win in 18 attempts.
Concession have managed three draws and 15 losses, conceding 47 times in the process.
In Chegutu, there is a feeling that if Dzinza can continue with their fine run on the road, which has seen them losing once against Golden Eagles, they can win the championship.
And, no one could have imagined that they will be just five points off the pace at this moment.
There is also a growing belief that this could be their season as they appear to have put their financial challenges behind them.