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Mark Mathe

Sports Reporter
ZIFA Southern Region Division One Soccer League championship favourites Bulawayo Chiefs bounced back to winning ways beating ZPC Hwange 2-0 at Dingumuzi Stadium in Plumtree at the weekend. Former Quelaton striker Tedious Mugumanya and midfielder Fundani Nkomo were on target for Bulawayo Chiefs.
Bulawayo Chiefs who have been at the top of the log from the first round had before their ZPC Hwange clash lost 0-1 to Tsholotsho Pirates and their victory against the power utility team saw them open a seven-point lead. They have amassed 34 points from 14 outings.

Second on the table Black Boots faltered as they were held to a one-all draw by Hwange’s Technosphere who are fourth on the log with 23 points from 14 matches.

Black Boots have 27 points while third placed Quelaton who played to a goalless draw at White City Stadium with the Lizwe Sweswe mentored Tsholotsho Pirates are two points behind Black Boots after 14 games.

Ex-Highlanders’ juniors coach Mark Mathe has had a good run at Zimbabwe Saints as he has managed to pick up nine out of a possible 12 points from the four matches he has been in charge of Chikwata.

Under Mathe, Zimbabwe Saints beat a hapless Bulawayo Jumbos 2-0, lost by the same scoreline to Technosphere, picked up maximum points with a 2-1 victory over Mkhosana and edged Ajax Hotspurs 3-2.

When they played against Ajax Hotspurs, forgotten utility player Ntokozo Tshuma who Mathe pushed forward from the midfield to striking, was on target with the other goals coming from Mlamuli Phakathi and Kenneth Dube.

Mathe took over at Chikwata from Edmore Sibanda who after 10 matches had managed to get 12 points but the arrival of former Chicken Inn and defunct McInn of Gwanda gaffer seems to have changed Zimbabwe Saints’ fortunes.

Chikwata are now on position eight tied on 21 points with ZPC Hwange.
The lanky coach who believes all the top eight teams on the log have a fair chance of winning the championship, was full of praise for his charges.
“In my own view all the top eight teams have a chance to win the title but we do not want to put ourselves under unnecessary pressure and that is why we are taking each game as it comes. Right now we are going to prepare for the Bantu Rovers game and that is what is in our immediate plans.

“As for the change of fortunes, I think when we came in with my assistant (Xolani Nkundlambe) we just instilled that sense of discipline and reminded the guys about what it means to play for a club like Zimbabwe Saints which has a rich history and that seems to be working. The guys are also working hard and it is through such consistent performance that we can achieve what we want,” said Mathe.

Results
Saturday: Quelaton 0, Tsholotsho Pirates 0; Bulawayo Jumbos 0, Hwange Juniors 1; Ajax Hotspurs 2, Zimbabwe Saints 3; Black Boots 1, Technosphere 1; Ntabazinduna Prison 0, New West 1; Rufaro 1, Mpumalanga 1; Mkhosana 1, Bantu Rovers 0; Bulawayo Chiefs 2, ZPC Hwange 0

Log
P    W    D    L    F    A    Pts
Bulawayo Chiefs    14    1    1    2    24    6    34
Black Boots    14    7    6    1    22    10    27
Quelaton    14    8    1    5    21    20    25
Technosphere    14    7    2    5    18    12    23
Tsholotsho    14    6    5    3    16    10    23
Bantu Rovers    14    7    1    6    14    12    22
ZPC Hwange    14    5    6    3    22    18    21
Zimbabwe Saints    14    6    3    5    20    18    21
Hwange Juniors    14    5    5    4    14    13    20
New West    14    6    2    6    18    18    20
Ajax Hotspurs    14    5    1    7    12    20    16
Mpumalanga    14    3    5    6    12    17    14
Mkhosana    14    4    2    8    10    23    14
Bulawayo Jumbos    14    3    2    10    10    22    11
Rufaro Rovers    14    3    2    9    9    21    11
Ntabazinduna    14    2    4    8    6    13    10