Grain Tigers remain firmly in the Central Region Soccer League title conversation after edging MSU 1-0, a result that keeps them within touching distance of the summit as the championship race gathers momentum.
After eight rounds of action, Chapungu FC lead the standings with 22 points, five ahead of second-placed Gwanda Pirates, while Grain Tigers occupy third place on 16 points. With much of the season still to play, the battle at the top remains wide open.
Despite the growing excitement around his team's position, Grain Tigers coach Kudzai Mhandire says his side is concentrating on maintaining its standards rather than monitoring rivals.
“We prepare to win every match, therefore every match is a must-win for us. That’s our approach,” said Mhandire. “Football being football, you can’t predict the outcome, but you prepare your own team.”
The coach believes the club's progress is being driven by a commitment to building a clear playing identity rather than chasing league positions.
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“Even if you take the top position with a game to play, it’s still work in progress,” he said. “You can never stop teaching and correcting a few things. Our goal is not just being contenders, it’s the ‘how’ that matters the most. That’s why I always talk of identity.”
While Chapungu and Gwanda Pirates have set the early pace, Grain Tigers have quietly emerged as genuine challengers, with their latest victory ensuring they remain within striking distance of the leaders.
Mhandire insists his players are focused solely on their own performances.
“We are not worried about those above or below us. We play our own games,” he said.
As expectations continue to rise, the coach believes the pressure that comes with success should motivate rather than burden his squad.
“The team position should be a motivating factor, not a distraction,” he said. “But as the saying goes, a bird that sits on the top branches of a tree attracts stones—that’s what we instil in the players’ minds.”
Grain Tigers now turn their attention to a potentially pivotal encounter against Super Strikers, knowing another victory could further tighten the race at the top and strengthen their growing title ambitions.
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