Faith, fortune and fortress: Grand Legacy chase gap as Yadah and Murambinda fight for cup survival

It is a weekend where football reigns supreme, and for others the weekend presents an opportunity to go to church and worship the Almighty before heading to the field of play to apply that faith powered by devout supplication.

Today the Pacific Storm Eastern Region writes two stories at once, one at St Paul’s Musami Stadium in Murehwa and the other at the Heart Stadium in the capital, both with the season’s narrative hanging in the balance.

At St Paul’s Musami Stadium, fourth-placed Grand Legacy Football Club have a chance to make up ground on the leaders.

With Yadah FC and Deportivo La Murambinda tied up in cup duty, a win for Grand Legacy today would close the gap at the top to just two points behind Yadah who rule the roost with 27 points.

Standing in their way are Mutare City Rovers, visitors to their fortress for a week 13 encounter and a side head coach Willard Katsande refuses to underestimate.

“We need to extend the winning mentality and take advantage of the home advantage, that’s what we are trying to do and I’m instilling the winning mentality into the boys,” Katsande told Fanzone.

“We need to continuously do well at home. We are playing Mutare City and we need to be at our best because if you look at the log they are not a team which lose a lot. We will give them the respect they deserve but when we are playing at home we will have the secret of the home advantage and our fans they are very supportive, they sing from the first minute until the last minute, so that on its own drives the boys to do well and to actually overcome everything.”

The expectations weigh heavy, but Katsande insists his focus is on performance, not permutations.

“We know that the expectations are higher especially if you look at the log but at the same time we need to play the 90 minutes. We need to perform and build a good performance in order for us to win the match. We are not looking much into the postponement of the Yadah and Deportivo La Murambinda game but we are looking into doing well as Grand Legacy and continuously winning those home matches. Of course if we perform well we are going to get what we want. We will look at the log as soon as we finish the game and we are looking forward to continuously pile the pressure on those big boys in the league, the early pacesetters. We need to compete, we need to be in there amongst the best teams in the league and also to give the fans and the people from Murehwa the opportunity to enjoy Premier Soccer League football.”

While Grand Legacy chase league points, the capital turns its attention to a winner-take-all battle.

At the Heart Stadium this afternoon, Yadah FC and Deportivo La Murambinda will put their league business on hold for the Zifa Munhumutapa Challenge Cup third round.

Only one side will advance to join three other Pacific Storm representatives, Buffaloes FC, Green Fuel FC and Destiny Stars FC, in the next round where they will meet teams from Division 2, the four Division One regions and the Premier Soccer League.

For Yadah, faith is as much a part of the game plan as tactics.

Head coach Kudakwashe Masaraure is unapologetic about it. “We are prepared to face any challenge, and don’t forget our team is a church team. I believe in the anointing of Prophet Walter Magaya so I don’t need to worry too much about any match because I believe in him. Yes Murambinda is a strong side, they are not pushovers but what I know is we are going to fight all the way. My players are in good shape plus I think we have the advantage of home ground. Yes I have some injuries but I believe every player I register can play.”

Across the dugout, Deportivo La Murambinda head coach Lovemore Dzoro is keeping his message simple and focused. “We are very much focused for today’s game. We have prepared for Yadah and we are ready.”

So the day splits in two. In Murehwa, Katsande wants his boys to feed off the home crowd and keep Grand Legacy’s title chase alive.

In Harare, Masaraure leans on faith while Dzoro leans on preparation, with one cup dream on the line.

Football and faith, league pressure and cup drama, all playing out before the final whistle blows.