Sporting Tigers under 18………………….. 0

Real Saints Under 18………………………….1

Sporting Tigers Under 18 succumbed to 1-0 defeat in the hands of Real Saints Under 18 through an own goal scored by Munyaradzi Vheremu in the Harare Province Junior Football League played at ZRP New Camp ground in Chitungwiza at the weekend.

Real Saints from Mabelreign dominated throughout, twice hitting the bar in the second half, but it was an own goal by Vheremu in 76th minute that separated the teams at the final whistle.

Real Saints head coach Collin Murimi said that he was very excited with the victory, playing away from home is not always easy and as you have witnessed the host team tried everything it can to force a draw but our defense was resolute.

“We won the match because we defended very well in both halves and made use of the chance that we got.” We were playing a very organized team. “We came here to defend and hit them on the counter,” said Murimi.

The head coach for Sporting Tigers Eddington Nengiwa coincide defeat and said he lost to a better organized team. “In the first half we made a good game, but we have to admit that Real Saints were better in the second half,” said Nengiwa.

Nengiwa bemoaned lack of sponsorship to nurture the youngsters at a tender age, as there is raw talent lying in the grassroots, of which if fully supported the youngster have the potential to become great players.

Nengiwa appealed to the corporate world to come in hand to help them to tape raw talent from the grassroots, as the future of soccer in Zimbabwe lies in the juniors. “I am the sole sponsor for Sporting Tigers and at times it is very difficult to cater for the travelling expenses for the team especially on away assignments,” said Nengiwa.

“Sporting Tigers has of late churned out  players such as Frank Dondo who is now playing for ZRP Morris Fc, Justice Muguyo who is playing for Calvary in division one and Kudakwashe Chaida who is turning out  for Harare Polytechnic College in division two, as some of the notable players who were nurtured by the club,” said  Nengiwa.

Real Saint midfielder Takunda Mugove described their victory against Sporting Tigers as a sweet win and further stated that his team was there to end a fine run of teams with unbeaten records.

“Our team is still new because we have been together just for eight months and we are beginning to gel,| said Mugove.

Sporting Tigers captain Simbarashe Magwegwe said that he didn’t play well but thanked his teammates for a great match. Magwegwe said that he is expecting to turn the tables on their next assignment away to Budiriro Gunners Fc on Saturday.

Sporting Tigers is on position number one on the Harare Province Junior Football league while Real Saints sits on position nine on the log table.