The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
MUTARE-based Tenax will earn promotion into the Premier Soccer League as Zifa Eastern Region champions if they avoid defeat against Ruwa away this afternoon.
Tenax, a Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services-sponsored team are on top of the log with 65 points, followed by Buffaloes on 63. Last Saturday, Tenax increased their advantage when they beat Grayman 2-0 on the same day that Buffaloes drew 1-1 with Chiredzi.
With a superior goal difference, Tenax can even afford a draw against Ruwa, even if Buffaloes manage a win against Green Fuel at home. In the event that Tenax were to lose, Buffaloes would then have to win by a huge margin to go on top of the log.
Matches involving the top five teams are all taking place today with the champions to be known at the end of the day. Tenax, Buffaloes, Masvingo United, FC Makaha and Bikita Minerals occupy the top five positions on the log.
Meanwhile, the top four teams will engage in the Diamond Super Cup that is sponsored by the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company (ZCDC) whose final is scheduled for Mutare on 7 December.
Davison Muchena, the Zifa Eastern Region chairman said the top-four tournament is now into its third year. Muchena expressed his gratitude to ZCDC for their continued bankrolling of the tournament.
“On behalf of the Zifa Eastern Region family, I would like to thank the Zimbabwean Consolidated Diamond Company for sponsoring the Diamond Super Cup for the third year in a row,’’ Muchena said.
According to the Zifa Eastern Region boss, the Diamond Super Cup has intensified competition among the teams, with his wish being to expand the tournament to be all inclusive.
“We are short of words to describe the support they gave us as it has increased the competition in the region so much. At the present moment we are having top four teams playing in the tournament but it was my wish to have an opportunity to get all teams playing in this tournament,’’ he said.
Muchena acknowledged the role played by Zifa board member Sugar Chagonda in enabling the Diamond Super Cup.
“I would also like to thank Sugar Chagonda who is also the Zifa board member for taking a leading role in facilitating the tournament.”
Tenax won the Diamond Super Cup last year with a 1-0 triumph over Green Fuel in last year’s final. Surrey won the inaugural edition in 2017.
