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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
VICTORIA Falls Tigers finally registered their first win of the season by edging Southern Region Division One League debutants Chiwororo 1-0 in the resort town on Saturday.

A goal by 19-year-old former Young Warriors striker Trust Maseko powered Tigers to their first set of maximum points in their ninth attempt of the season.

The win lifted Tigers up from the bottom of the table into 12th place of the 14-team league with six points from nine games.

Mehluli Moyo, Tigers’ coach, believes the win over Chiwororo was a confidence booster for his young squad.

“It hasn’t been easy because the young squad we have took time to gel after we lost a number of seasoned players at the beginning of the year. They are starting to adapt and I’m sure the boys now have confidence following this win. We have to keep on working hard and make sure we build from this win,” said Moyo.

Tigers lost attacking midfielder Shepard Gadzikwa to Premiership side Hwange, midfielder and former captain Quit Ndlovu, striker Carlos Dube, defender Oscar Chove, goalkeeper Darlington Matta and attacking midfielder Godknows Sibanda to cross town rivals Amagagasi.

The players that now form their backbone include central defender Simba Mpofu, ex-Trumus and Amagagasi defender Warrit Siwela and the midfield trio of Harrington Kapinuka, Melikhaya Ncube and John Chinyerere.

Chiwororo are now second from the bottom of the table with five points from eight games, a point above basement side Amagagasi, who were inactive at the weekend.

Despite being lowly placed, Chiwororo are confident of climbing up the ladder out of the relegation zone.

“We’re playing well, but lack of experience in our side is costing us. As for relegation, we won’t go down. We just need a couple of experienced players to steady our ship while the youngsters we brought into First Division with get experience. The youngsters also need to understand that we’re now in a different level, change mindset and work harder than what we’ve been doing if we’re to start collecting points,” said Morris Mukwiti, Chiwororo’s coach.

While Chiwororo were left licking their wounds after the weekend games, Zim Leopards, who are also in their debut season in Division One, pulled a shocker, beating Talen Vision 2-1 at White City Stadium.

Leopards got their goals from Marvin Dube and Michael Bhebhe, while Vision, who probably underrated their opponents, scored their consolation through Mongameli Ndlovu.

Leopards moved a place up the ladder to ninth place tied on 11 points with eighth-placed Indlovu Iyanyathela.

Bosso 90 made a giant leap up the table from sixth to third with 16 points following a 3-2 win over Black Boots. Highlanders’ development side scored through Muziwakhe Dlamini, Thabo Lunga and Xolani Mdlongwa, while Tendai Zaza scored a brace for Black Boots.

Meanwhile, leaders Bulawayo Chiefs extended their unbeaten run to 11 games, after winning their 10th game of the season by dismissing Casmyn 2-0.

Adrian Banana, who returned from a trial stint in Tanzania, and Fortune Nkomazana scored for Chiefs, as they opened a 14-point lead over second placed ZRP Bulawayo, who have two games in hand.

Results

Saturday: ZPC Hwange 1-1 Makomo, Victoria Falls Tigers 1-0 Chiwororo, Bosso 90 3-2 Black Boots, Zim Leopards 2-1 Talen Vision, Indlovu Iyanyathela v Amagagasi (postponed)
Sunday: Bulawayo Chiefs 2-0 Casmyn

Table

P    W    D    L    F    A    GD    Pts
Bulawayo Chiefs    11    10    1    0    22    2    20    31
ZRP Bulawayo    9    4    5    0    13    4    9    17
Bosso 90    9    4    4    1    11    9    2    16
ZPC Hwange    8    4    3    1    10    3    7    15
Casmyn    10    4    3    3    13    8    5    15
Talen Vision    11    3    5    3    9    7    2    14
Makomo    9    3    3    3    9    11    -2    12
Indlovu Iyanyathela    8    3    2    3    12    9    3    11
Zim Leopards    10    2    5    3    17    16    1    11
Mosi Rovers    10    2    3    5    8    18    -10    9
Black Boots    9    1    4    4    9    21    -12    7
Victoria Falls Tigers    9    1    3    5    4    15    -11    6
Chiwororo    8    1    2    5    10    15    -5    5
Amagagasi    8    1    1    6    4    12    -8    4

@ZililoR