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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
SOUTHERN Region Soccer League favourites Bulawayo City suffered a shock 0-3 defeat to Technosphere in Hwange on Saturday, leaving them four points adrift of pacesetters ZPC Hwange.

The Bulawayo City Council bankrolled side was outclassed by the Hwange side that has now gone five matches without conceding a goal.

Goals from Vumani Sibanda, Bekithemba Nyoni and Nhlanhla Ndlovu gave Technosphere a shock win over the third placed team on the league table.

The victory saw Technosphere moving three places up the ladder to ninth with 12 points.

Technosphere coach Try Ncube praised his boys for a disciplined performance and believes that the win has given them a sense of self belief.

“It was a tough game because Bulawayo City are a good and experienced side, but the boys fought hard and we got our tactics right on the day,” said Ncube.

“Remember we’d gone for five games without conceding but the problem is we were drawing but I think now we’ll score more goals. The boys now believe they can win as many games as possible to go as high as possible because we’re still not safe from relegation.”

Technosphere were on song last season, pushing the championship race to the wire and only lost the title to Tsholotsho with one game to go.

The Hwange side also lost a number of players at the beginning of the season, which affected their start to the season.

“We lost most of our players and that affected our rhythm. We’ve got a new team and the boys are beginning to gel. Hopefully, this win will be followed by more victories so that we try and catch up with the leading pack,” Ncube said.

While Technosphere are celebrating hard earned points, it’s back to the drawing board for Bulawayo City gaffer Philani “Beefy” Ncube and his charges.

The championship winning coach with Chicken Inn in 2011 conceded defeat and said they have to rise from their slumber.

“The championship race is a marathon and you’re bound to get knocks along the way. We lost to a better side and now we’ve to go back to the training ground and work on our shortcomings. We tried to fight but they were good and I think what’s important is to recover from this loss. I’ve a group of committed players and I believe they can rise to the occasion,” Philani said.

Seasoned players at Bulawayo City include former Chicken Inn and How Mine’s Xolisani “Scara” Moyo, speed merchants Qinani Sibanda and Mkhululi Moyo, veteran defender Bruce Tshuma, goalkeeper Ndodana Sibanda, Makhosi Ncube and Zibusiso Sibanda.

Meanwhile, table toppers ZPC Hwange edged struggling Hwange Juniors 1-0 at Chakona Stadium to take their unbeaten run to nine games.

The electricity generators are on 21 points, a point above second placed Bulawayo Chiefs, who beat Mpumalanga 1-0 in Hwange.

Former Premiership side Bantu Rovers were nearly embarrassed by winless Old Nic Mine at Hartsfield Stadium, coming from behind to salvage a 2-2 draw.

Former Railstars hitman Lenience “Qobho” Mpofu seems to have found his yesteryear form and developing a knack for scoring in every match. He was on target for Tshintsha Guluva with the other goal coming from Tafadzwa Ngwenya.

Never Dube scored a brace for Old Nic Mine.

Black Boots’ title hopes suffered a blow when they lost 2-1 at home to Casmyn.

 

Results

Saturday: Technosphere 3-0 Bulawayo City, ZPC Hwange 1-0 Hwange Juniors, Mpumalanga 0-1 Bulawayo Chiefs, Bantu Rovers 2-2 Old Nic Mine, Black Boots 1-2 Casmyn, Trumus 1-0 Nust

Sunday: Makomo 0-1 Indlovu Iyanyathela, Amagagasi 2-1 Ntabazinduna

 

Southern Region Soccer League Table

P W D L F A GD Pts

ZPC Hwange 9 6 3 0 11 3 8 21

Bulawayo Chiefs 9 6 2 1 13 3 10 20

Bulawayo City 9 5 2 2 11 4 7 17

Ntabazinduna 9 5 1 3 14 8 6 16

Bantu Rovers 9 4 3 2 10 7 3 15

Casmyn 9 4 2 3 7 9 -2 14

Amagagasi 8 3 4 1 10 8 2 13

Indlovu Iyanyathela 9 4 1 4 8 8 0 13

Technosphere 9 3 3 3 8 6 2 12

Makomo 9 3 3 3 7 7 0 12

Black Boots 8 3 1 4 10 9 1 10

Trumus 9 2 4 3 4 6 -2 10

Nust 9 1 4 4 5 11 -6 7

Mpumalanga 9 1 2 6 3 10 -7 5

Hwange Juniors 9 1 1 7 5 15 -10 4

Old Nic Mine 9 0 4 5 4 16 -12 4