Sheasham appoints Zambian coach

Gweru (New Ziana) – Relegation-threatened Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side Sheasham FC has appointed former Zambian youth coach Reuben Njavera to the coaching department, and recruited two new strikers to boost its chances of surviving the dreaded chop in the top flight league.

Njavera comes in as assistant coach.

The Construction Boys, as they are popularly known, are second from bottom in the 18-team league and face log leaders Ngezi Platinum this weekend at Bata Stadium.

With alarm bells ringing their dressing room, following a hugely indifferent start to the season, the team also secured the services of 36-year-old veteran striker Kuda Musharu and left winger Dinoleen Masukuta from Harare City.
Speaking during their weekly pre-match press conference, Njavera, a gold medalist with the Zambia Under 20 AFCON team in 2017 – that also went to play the U20 World Cup in South Korea as assistant coach, said he was attracted by Sheasham’s passion to field young players.
He said the major area Sheasham needs to work on is scoring goals.

“Defensively they have been spot on and what they need is one attacking midfielder and a striker,” he said.

Sheasham head coach John Nyikadzino, who has received backlash for the team’s poor performance, put up a brave face and vowed that the team would not be relegated at the end of the season.

“I am not panicking (of the team’s position). I have been in worse situations where I have survived and today, I am saying Sheasham will not be relegated,” he said.

“We are two points from getting out of the relegation zone and we still have 22 games to play, which is a long way to go. We just need one win and we are out of the relegation zone,” he said.

Nyikadzino reminded supporters that the team had lost only three matches out of 12, a run that demonstrates the team’s potential.
“We have been dominating play and it is a matter of getting the goals,” he said.

Nyikadzino said his experience and the professional enabling environment at Sheasham would make them move out of the four relegation slots.

The team has been working on the strike force, which has been the team’s Achilles heels, and Nyikadzino hopes the arrival of Musharu and Masukuta would boost them.

Sheasham lost their last game 1-0 on the road against Manica Diamonds in Chiredzi and they are looking forward to record their first win at home after the two matches played before ended in draws.

Sheasham captain Nigel Mupanduki said they are not intimidated by the log leaders.

New Ziana