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Musa Mandaza

Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
TSHOLOTSHO FC celebrated their Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League title in style with an emphatic 4-2 away win at Mpumalanga in Hwange.Tsholotsho FC, who won the championship that catapulted them to the topflight league with a game to spare, had the luxury of fielding their sponsor Mandla Manyathela as a second half substitute after registering him as a free agent last week.

The Zhwane Boys, who are likely to use Bulawayo’s White City Stadium as their temporary home with the hope of developing a facility that suits Premiership requirements, scored their goals through Edmore Chirambadare and Douglas Jeremiah who got a brace each.

“It was a befitting farewell for us and nothing is sweeter than going into the Premiership after a convincing win. We even had the luxury of fielding the sponsor (Manyathela) who was taking instructions from some of the senior players who were on the bench. It was really nice to see him (Manyathela) relate with the players and now the focus is on planning for the next step,” said Melody Ndlovu, Tsholotsho FC’s secretary-general.

Technosphere, who lost the title race last week when they were held by New West in Bulawayo, played to a goalless draw with former champions Plumtree Chiefs in Hwange leaving them seven points adrift of Tsholotsho FC who finished on 57 points.

On the relegation end, Old Nic Mine were relegated after playing to a 0-0 draw with Quelaton in a match they wanted to win at all costs.

The goldminers ended the season tied on 20 points with Quelaton but they had an inferior goal difference.

Four teams — Makomo and Amagagasi from Matabeleland North, BCC Golden Lions and Magwegwe Pirates of Bulawayo’s Division Two Provincial League alongside relegated Premiership side Bantu Rovers, complete the number of teams in the Southern Region Division One league.

Meanwhile, Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer league clubs voted for their best 11 players of the season which saw champions Tsholotsho FC and Technosphere contributing two players each.

The Zhwane Boys have the duo of Edmore Chirambadare and Chang Mariyone while Technosphere have Kelvin Nyoni and Gift Mbweti.

Former Hwange, FC Platinum and How Mine striker Simon Njeleza, who is now plying his trade for Black Boots, Brian Chikwenya of Trumus, Plumtree Chiefs’ Kundishora Kudakwashe, Wellington Chipendo (Mpumalanga), Fidelis Dube (Ntabazinduna), New West’s Webster Kondowe and Desire Shumbanhete of ZPC Hwange complete the list of players set for the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League’s stars calendar.

The league’s Player of the Year will get $300 with the first runner-up getting $150 while the second runner-up will pocket $100. The rest of the players will get $50 each.

Machache Meats, who are bankrolling the awards, have also set aside $300 for the Top Goal Scorer and $250 for the Coach of the Year.

“Because of the Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games, we have decided to hold our stars event after December 15,” said Musa Mandaza, the Zifa Southern Region chairman.
Results

Saturday: Mpumalanga 2-4 Tsholotsho, New West 0-1 Hwange Juniors, ZPC Hwange 3-0 Portland Cement (walkover), Technosphere 0-0 Plumtree Chiefs, Trumus 0-0 Elephants FC, Old Nic Mine 0-0 Quelaton