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Lloyd Mutasa

Grace Chingoma. Harare Bureau

WHAWHA bade farewell to the Castle Lager Premiership yesterday becoming the second team to be relegated from the top-flight after Dongo Sawmill who were demoted two weeks ago.

The Gweru outfit’s draw took their points to 22 points but with six points still to play for, it is not going to be enough to help the team survive the chop.

Harare City striker Patrick Kumwala found the opener in the third minute of added time of the first half while Whawha equalised through Roy Useni two minutes after the restart.

However, there were no tears at Rufaro from the Whawha players who somehow knew their fate had virtually been sealed once they surrendered their destiny to other teams.

Their coach Lloyd Mutasa, hwoever said he is hopeful that the team will be able to bounce back from Division One.

The club this week got a new team bus from the Zimbabwe Prison Services a gesture which Mutasa believes shows their paymasters still have the football club in their plans.

The former Dynamos and Kiglon coach could not really comment whether he would be going to the first division with the team or would be looking for a new club in the top flight next season.

Harare City coach Taurai Mangwiro said the forced substitution early into the match when they had to replace injured defender Crispen Dickson with skipper David Kutyauripo affected their game plan.

“It kind of put our game plan into disarray that forced substitution but I thought we had done well to take a half time lead.

“We’re looking forward to the last two matches. Sometimes we lacked patience and at times the goalkeeper took some spectacular saves. Disappointment in the end, we couldn’t maximise today,  hopefully there would be better luck next time.

“I still believe we can finish in the top six, six points at stake, we’ll see how it goes.

While Whahwa were waving goodbye, their fellow prisoners Flame Lily are still in mathematically and lived to fight another day after they drew 1-1 with FC Platinum at Larfarge.

The prisoners now on 24 points would have to win their remaining two matches and hope that Buffaloes who are on 29 points and Tsholotsho on 30 points lose their last two matches.

It is a tough call but in football never say never and Flame Lily coach Takesure Chiragwi said they will keep fighting and see what happens with other teams in the relegation.