NGEZI Platinum Stars are now shifting focus to the Chibuku Super Cup, which is their only realistic window to claim silverware after seemingly slipping out of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title matrix.
The platinum miners fell to relegation haunted Chegutu Pirates on Saturday, which dented any lingering hopes of retaining the title.
Ngezi are 14 points behind log leaders Simba Bhora, who they face in the Chibuku Super Cup semis at Baobab Stadium on Saturday.
Takesure Chiragwi’s men eliminated Caps United in the quarter-finals in a match that was decided by a penalty shootout.
“The Chibuku Super Cup is the trophy where we have our own fate in our hands. In the league, we still have a mathematical chance, but it’s no longer in our hands, so we shift focus to the Chibuku Super Cup,” Chiragwi said.
“We are in the semi-final and it’s still in our hands. We have to concentrate and put all effort so that we can go to the final. I think that would be good because this season has not been that good for us in terms of results.
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“We played so many draws, but that’s football for you. What is important is that we still have a chance to get silverware, we just have to concentrate and focus.”
Dynamos will play Manica Diamonds in the other semi-final, which will be staged at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
Chiragwi will be hoping that his team can return to the final after losing to Dynamos in last season’s final.
He bemoaned costly mistakes on Saturday and he is praying that they can be more tidy in the cup tie.
“It’s tough luck for us and we lost at home. Two primary mistakes cost us at the end of the day. Besides those two mistakes, we did well and it’s part of football,” the platinum miners-mentor said.
Ngezi thrashed Hwange 6-0 before they faced Chegutu Pirates.
Chiragwi admitted that playing relegation-threatened sides at this stage of the season poses a big challenge.
“Playing against a team fighting relegation is not easy. They were fighting for everything,” he said.
“They did well and it’s a lesson for us. We won last week and we lost today [Saturday]. We just have to keep the focus and fight so that we finish in a respectable position.”