HARARE - Black Mambas have vowed to shed their relegation candidate tag in the forthcoming 2013 Castle Premiership season.

Warumwa Warumwa has survived the chop on the last day of the season in the last two seasons since their promotion from the Northern Region Division One League in 2010.

Last season, the police outfit spent the better part of the season in the relegation zone before they beat FC Platinum 4-2 on the final day to secure their Premiership status on goal difference.

Mambas regrouped for their pre-season last week and coach John Ncube believes his team has now evolved.

“When I look at the squad that we now have, it has matured in the last two years we have been in the league,” Ncube told the Daily News.

“I don’t think it is good enough for us to remain in the bottom half and fight against relegation all the time. We are looking forward to the new season because we now have a strong team and the players are now aware what is required at this level.”

Ncube ruled out any wholesale changes to the squad he had last season as he believes that continuity will be the key factors to the club’s success in 2013.

Meanwhile, the club held their 2012 awards ceremony last Friday and defender Ben Nyahunzvi was the biggest winner on the night.

The centre half won the Players’ Player of the Year and Player of the Year gongs after his sterling performances at the heart of the Mambas defence.

Nyahunzvi walked away $1 800 richer for winning both awards.

“Throughout the season Ben was our best player and he was the rock at the back as he never put a foot wrong,” Ncube said.

Patrick Muswere was also another big winner on the night as he also bagged two awards.

Muswere won the Most Improved Player and Most Disciplined Players awards that carried a prize of $750 each.

Fullback Paidamoyo Madziva was voted the club’s Rookie of the Year and pocketed a cheque of $500.

Forward Last Chibwiro finished 2012 as Mambas’ top goal scorer with nine goals and his Golden Boot award carried a prize of $800.

Midfielder Innocent De Slyva Nyoni won the award for the Most Consistent Player to claim a cash prize of $750.