BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
ONE has to go back to November 24, 2018 to find the last time that Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side ZPC Kariba lost a football match at their home ground Nyamhunga.
It was a 2- 1 loss to Bulawayo Chiefs in the last home game of the season. ZPC Kariba, currently ranked fourth on the log standings, are just one match from completing an unbeaten home record this season and they play relegated Mushowani in their final home match.
Under coach Godfrey Tamirepi, ZPC Kariba have a created quite a fortress of their home ground which has helped them to challenge for the title until recent weeks this year.
Tamirepi is excited at the prospects of becoming the only club to finish the season without a home defeat this season.
“I am very happy that we haven’t lost a match at home this season and hopefully we are going to complete a full season. This run has kept our supporters happy and helped compete well in the league during the season,” he said.
ZPC Kariba have led the race for the league title race several times this season but an awful away record made it difficult for the club to sustain the campaign and keep up with the top teams.
The Kariba based side has won nine out of 16 matches they played at Nyamhunga while the rest ended in stalemates.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
On the other hand the team has lost 10 of the 16 matches away from home this year, drawing three times and winning the same number of games But according to Tamirepi, it was the team’s target at the beginning of the season to make sure that they do not drop points at home if they were to compete in the league.
“When the season started we agreed that we need to capitalise on home games and we have done well at home. Of course we drew some games we were not supposed to draw otherwise we would probably be in a much better place in the league.
“We are looking to go as far as we can with this unbeaten run at home but we understand that it takes a lot of hard work to keep this going,” he said.
After finishing 10th on the log standings last season, Kariba have done much better this season and are poised for a top four finish barring any late season slip ups.
ZPC Kariba lost the league title to Dynamos on the last day of the season in their debut season in 2014 and they have struggled to reach the same level since.
Tamirepi is looking to improve on this season’s performance next year.
“As a coach you want to do better than the previous season so next season that is our target. I am happy that we moved from 10th place last year and we are currently fourth with two games to go,” he said.
The ZPC Kariba coach was also pleased after one of his player Ian Nekati was chosen among the soccer stars of the year.
Striker David Temwajira made it to the soccer stars calendar from the club last season.
