Kawondera aims for photo finish in NRSL with Trojan Stars

BINDURA – Trojan Stars coach Ralph Kawondera believes his side will cause a lot of upsets in the second half of the Northern Region Soccer League season after making some additions to the squad.

Kawondera who took over the reigns at the Bindura based club just before the break, brought in veterans Stephen Matsangaise and Martin Mine along with Brian Kativu, Masheti Jakarasi and Blessing Mukoko.

“Our target is to finish in the top four and I believe that the players that we brought in are going to be valuable in us achieving this goal,” Kawondera said.

“We have been preparing well during the break and the players have been responding well to my philosophy. I’m very confident that we are going to be very competitive during the second of the season.”

The seasoned Kawondera who was in charge of Masvingo United in the Premier Soccer League before stints as assistant coach at FC Platinun and coached a number of first division sides, was also impressed with Trojan Stars’ good run in the Axis Super8 Cup in which they narrowly lost out on final berth after losing to Golden Eagles by a goal to nil in the semi finals.

“I was impressed by the self belief shown by the youngsters against Golden Eagles and with the way they are working at the moment, I’m very much optimistic that we are going to do well in the second half of the season.”

Chief striker Quality Kangadzi who was among the forces behind Trojan Stars’ finish in the top eight at the end of the first half of the season said he is buoyed by the wave of belief within the team ahead of the resumption of the league this weekend.

“If you look at the log standings, we are not really far off the mark. We are still within a touching distance of the team occupying the fourth position. With the way that we have been working at training during the break, we can achieve it,” Kangadzi said.

“I would also want to take this opportunity to thank our fans for their massive support. We really appreciate their support and all I can say we are in this together let’s get into the second half of the season, with the same conviction that we are going to do well. Together we can make Bindura proud.”

Trojan Stars are eighth on the log standings with 23 points, 13 behind log leaders Simba Bhora and 5 points behind fourth placed Commando Bullets. The Bindura based side begin their second half of the season campaign against Harare City Cubs on Saturday.