Chapungu coach Tendai Chikuni has boldly declared that his team will not have a brush with relegation in 2017. 

Chapungu fought against relegation in 2016 having finished ninth during the 2015 season under John Nyikadzino. But Chikuni who took charge of the team in January, believes he has a team that can compete for a top finish rather than to be fighting for survival.

“What you say is normally what happens. We don't want to talk about relegation because that is not what we want. What we want is to finish among the best clubs because we have the potential to do so," said Chikuni.

“We have a lot of depth this season which can carry us to where we want. We are not going to have a rotation of players but we are going to change players to suit the opponents we will be facing."

Chikuni who won the Central Soccer League championship with Shabanie Mine rung a lot of changes to the team in their goalless draw against Triangle in the opening match of the season at Ascot stadium on Saturday.

Only four players who were regulars under Nyikadzino last season made it to the starting team in the stalemate against Triangle while a host of other players were those plucked from Shabanie Mine and former FC Platinum junior players where Chikuni also coached before.

Left back Ricky Bota, striker Lloyd Gwerina and goalkeeper Joseph Ferinando were with the Chinda Boys last season while Nigel Papias, Livingston Genti, Ian Nyoni, Kelvin Bingala were once with the Platinum Miners development side. Goalkeeper Roy Mazingi, defenders Collen Kwaramba, Blessing Zabula and Charles Mativenga were the only players from Nyikadzino's era who managed to make it into the first team under the new coach. Tineyi Chitora and Brighton Mugoni were brought back from loan from ZPC Kariba and Blue Jets respectively. Chapungu take on Black Rhinos in their next match at the National Sports Stadium next Saturday.