Ngezi Platinum Stars roar back, but can they susta...

Ngezi Platinum Stars roar back, but can they sustain the momentum?

**Ngezi Platinum Stars coach, Takesure Chiragwi**

Philemon Jambaya

ASSISTANT EDITOR

A collective sigh of relief echoed through the Ngezi Platinum Stars camp after their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bulawayo Chiefs on Saturday. This win snapped a five-game winless streak, a much-needed tonic for the defending champions and their coach, Takesure Chiragwi.

Prior to this match, Ngezi Platinum, nicknamed “Madamburo” (The Platinum Miners), had endured a frustrating period. They suffered one defeat and limped to four draws in their previous five outings. Takunda Benhura’s first-half goal against Bulawayo Chiefs finally stemmed the tide of underwhelming results.

The win served as a lifeline for Chiragwi, who has faced mounting pressure due to the team’s sluggish start to the season. “This victory feels like the heavens have opened up for us,” he remarked with a hint of relief.

“We’ve been through a rough patch, but I believe this could be the start of a winning run. The feeling of winning again is crucial for the team’s morale.”

Thankfully for Chiragwi, the club’s management has publicly backed him throughout this challenging period. “Their support is invaluable,” he expressed his gratitude.

“As head coach, it’s reassuring to know my superiors have my back. They understand the difficulties of being the defending champions – every team wants to scalp us.”

Ngezi Platinum’s Achilles’ heel this season has undoubtedly been their leaky defence. They’ve conceded a concerning nine goals so far, a stark contrast to the eight they’ve managed to score. While they’ve kept five clean sheets in the first ten games, the recent defensive frailties are a cause for concern.

The coach is leaving no stone unturned in addressing this defensive vulnerability. “We can’t win games if we score and then fail to defend properly,” he emphasised.

“Basic football dictates focus for the entire 90 minutes. Scoring and defending well is the winning formula. Conceding soft goals opens the door for defeats or draws. We’re working hard to ensure that once we score, we don’t concede, no matter the situation. We need to show defensive resilience.”

The Bulawayo Chiefs victory offers Ngezi Platinum Stars a glimmer of hope. Can they capitalize on this momentum and translate it into a sustained winning run?