Sports Writer
FORMER premiership side, Chapungu will be banking on the continuity in their squad to spur them to promotion in the Central Region Soccer League which starts this Friday.
The Air Force of Zimbabwe side hosts Blanket Mine at Ascot stadium in the opening match of the campaign.
Chapungu coach Tererai Zinyowera has boldly declared that the Gweru side are gunning for promotion this season.
They have a largely unchanged side with a few additions from their feeder junior team.
“What we did was to try and build on the last season’s performance in the second half of the season,” Zinyowera said.
“In terms of new additions, we have a number of young players that we roped in but generally we kept the core of the squad that we had last season.”
Waru Waru will look up to the experience of midfielders Marshall Mugaviri, Hammond Muchingami and Cuthbert Gwaze to drive the engine room.
Veteran defender, Charles Mativenga will give guidance and solidity at the back alongside the evergreen Phillip Chamunorwa and Pelembe Maruza.
Zinyowera added that the club is not backing down on the challenge of fighting to bring top flight football.
‘We are a big brand’
“Chapungu is a big brand, the players must understand that, we belong in the premiership.
“That is the target this season, the goal is to bring back the side into the top flight and we will fight to the end,” added the airmen gaffer.
But in Blanket Mine, Chapungu face a tricky opposition that has conducted shrewd transfer business.
The Gwanda side have one of the most experienced sides comprising of the likes of Roy Useni, Ali Maliselo, Takudzwa Nyengera and Donnington Muparo.
Elsewhere, Gwanda Pirates are at home to FC Platinum U19, Shabani hosts Super Strikers.
The match between Kwekwe United and MSU has been postponed due to the students participating at the ZUSA games.
Week One Fixtures: Kwekwe United v MSU(Postponed), Chapungu v Blanket Mine, West Nicholson v Grain Tigers, Dulibadzimu v Shurugwi fc, Shabani v Super Strikers, Tongogara v Vhembe, Sabi v ZRP GWANDA, Good Morning v Matobo fc, Gwanda Pirates v FC Platinum U19.
