Sikhumbuzo Moyo

Struggling Castle Lager Premiership table anchors Border Strikers are not thinking about relegation but are certain of survival despite posting just two wins in their 14 outings to date.

Coach Never Malunga made the declaration after his Beitbridge-based outfit narrowly went down 0-1 to Bulawayo City at Barbourfields Stadium on Wednesday.

“We are not relegation candidates, not at all. Its quiet obvious we will turn around the fortunes of the team during the second half of the season,” he said.

He believed the biggest undoing in the opening half of the season was due to playing away from home after the condemnation of their home ground Dulivhadzvimu Stadium for failing to meet PSL standards. They were forced to play their home games at Maglas Stadium in Zvishavane.

“We have been playing away for so long and I think we now have the advantage of playing at home, so we will come up with something,” said Malunga.

Border Strikers posted identical 1-0 wins over Tsholotsho and Harare City; results that gave them the six points they sit on, just two behind fellow strugglers Tsholotsho. Only two teams will face the chop at the end of this season.

Malunga said as part of their survival strategy, he would soon go into the market to look for what he termed mature players that can stand the heat.

“We don’t have many players that are naturally gifted, but they are hard workers. We will go into the market and look for players to beef our team, especially in midfield and the strike force. We have to look for mature players,” Malunga said.