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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
VICTORIA Falls outfit Amagagasi sunk deep into the Southern Region Division One Soccer League’s murky relegation waters as they lost 1-2 to Zim Leopards at the resort town

Amagagasi who have had a disastrous campaign having been title contenders in 2016 are second from the bottom with 15 points from 21 games and have to give a good fight if they are to salvage their season.

Leopards have been on a revival path since the arrival of coaching duo of Tobias Mudyambanje and Chipo Tsodzo during the midseason break.

The two have been in charge of eight games and their victory against Amagagasi was their fifth. Under Mudyambanje and Tsodzo, Leopards beat ZRP Bulawayo home and away, rivals Chiwororo, Talent Vision as well as Amagagasi. Their defeat was against Premiership bound Bulawayo Chiefs, Casmyn and Mosi Rovers.

Against Amagagasi who are fighting for their survival, Leopards got their goals from Ainsley Muswaka and Kudzai Pfunza while Godknows Sibanda got the consolation goal for the Victoria Falls side.

Following their away victory, Leopards moved two places up the table from position seven to five with 30 points from 21 games.

Leonard Sibanda, Leopards’ manager heaped praises on his players saying they stuck to their game plan and fought for the points against Amagagasi.

“We had a great game against Amagagasi and I think it was 50-50. The result could have gone either way but our players gave a good fight and wanted the victory more than their counterparts. We created lots of chances that we missed,” said Sibanda.

About their season’s targets, Sibanda said: “What we want is to play good football and let the players enjoy their game. We are happy with how the players have progressed, how they continue to freely express themselves in a good football environment. If the players are happy with their game, we are also happy.”

Some of the players that have been outstanding for Leopards include defensive duo of Lee Matizirofa and Modern Nleya, strikers Tawanda Zinaka, Tambudzai Ngulube and Malvin Dube. Ngulube and Dube have each scored six goals.

Meanwhile, Premiership bound Chiefs, had their 28-match unbeaten which stretched to last season coming to a halt as they lost 1-3 to relegation fighters Chiwororo. Before Saturday’s game, Chiefs had last lost a league game on October 2, 2016 when they were beaten 2-1 by ZRP Bulawayo Province in a Week 22 encounter. Under Thulani Sibanda, Chiefs won 24 out of their 27 outings, drawing four. Two of the draws were played last season Black Boots (0-0) on Week 26 and the 1-1 scoreline against Ntabazinduna which cost them the title as well a place in the Premiership.

This year they drew twice, all identical 0-0 scorelines against Makomo and Casmyn.

Chiwororo’s win saw them swapping positions with Amagagasi as they moved to position 12 from 13.

Results
Saturday: Chiwororo 3-1 Bulawayo Chiefs, Amagagasi 1-2 Zim Leopards, Victoria Falls Tigers 0-3 Mosi Rovers, ZPC Hwange 0-0 Talen Vision, Makomo v ZRP Bulawayo (postponed)

Sunday: Bosso 90 0-0 Casmyn

Table

P    W    D    L    F    A    GD    Pts
Bulawayo Chiefs    21    18    2    1    41    7    34    56
ZPC Hwange    22    12    7    3    33    8    25    43
Bosso 90    22    10    6    6    24    18    6    36
Makomo    21    8    9    4    21    16    9    33
Zim Leopards    21    8    6    7    29    31    -2    30
Casmyn    21    7    8    6    21    14    7    29
ZRP Bulawayo    20    7    6    7    21    21    0    27
Mosi Rovers    21    7    6    8    22    24    -2    27
Talen Vision    21    5    10    6    16    14    2    25
Indlovu Iyanyathela    19    7    4    8    21    26    -5    25
Black Boots    21    5    7    9    23    35    -12    22
Chiwororo    21    4    4    13    21    36    -15    16
Amagagasi    21    3    6    12    14    30    -16    15
Vic Falls Tigers    21    2    5    14    7    37    -30    11

@ZililoR