By Sports writer
CHAPUNGU coach Tawanda Marimo has challenged his players to rise to the occasion and put their campaign back on track when they face Sheasham in a Ruvimbo Central Region Soccer League match at Ascot stadium this afternoon.
Waru Waru have suffered back to back defeats in their last two league encounters losing to Dinson Mvuma and Dulibadzimu.
And Marimo feels the derby against Sheasham on Saturday is the perfect chance for his side to reassert themselves as the football pride of the city.
“Chapungu is a big brand and our status must be evident when we play in derbies.Our pride is at stake on Saturday and we should really rise to the occasion,”he said.
The Air force of Zimbabwe side are ninth on the log standings with seven points, nine behind leaders Dulibadzimu.
Marimo admits his side will need to put in a better performance against their cross town rivals in order to keep apace with the log leaders.
“We haven’t been playing well in the past two matches, losing both games and that must come to an end. We need to rectify the mistakes in the past two matches and put our campaign back on track,” he added.
Sheasham coach Lizwe Sweswe says they are just preparing for an ordinary match and are not reading much into the hype about the derby.
For Sweswe, the focus is to improve his charges’ mentality for the rest of the season.
“Our preparations are not changing because we are facing Chapungu.We are taking it as a normal game. All we are working on is to have a strong mentality,” Sweswe said.
In other matches log leaders Dulibadzimu are on the road to face Blanket Mine in Gwanda on Sunday while high flying Dinson Mvuma have a tough assignment away to Tongogara.
ZRP Gwanda are at home to Gokwe North fc, struggling MSU hosts ZRP Gwanda at the MSU campus and the Wangu Mazodze City and Beitbridge clash at Baghdad stadium completes Saturday’s fixtures.
