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Thulani Sibanda

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
Bulawayo Chiefs 1-0 Talen Vision

A Moses Majika priceless goal at the death of the game sparked wild celebrations from Bulawayo Chiefs bench as they stole maximum points against a Talen Vision side which deserved at least a point.

The victory at Hartsfield Ground took Chiefs’ points tally to 47 from 17 outings and now need 16 points from nine games to reach an unassailable 63 points to lift the Southern Region Division One Soccer League.

Second placed ZPC Hwange who take on Black Boots this afternoon in Hwange can only end the season on 62 points in the event that they win all their games.

Chiefs’ victory came as a relief for the table-toppers who were held to a 0-0 draw by Casmyn last weekend.

Yesterday, Chiefs finished the match with 10 players after defensive midfielder Gracious Muleya was red carded after picking a second yellow card in the last 10 minutes of the game for a foul on a Talen Vision player.

The Golden Boys, as Talen Vision prefer to be called, gave a good account of themselves, pushing Chiefs on the back foot for the better part of the game and with a bit of luck they could have won the game.

Talen Vision’s mistake was to pullout forceful striker Mlungisi Dzidzo Ncube, a former Highlanders juniors’ player for Mlamuli Phakathi after Chiefs had been reduced to 10 players. Unlike Ncube who was a thorn in the flesh for Chiefs defenders, Phakathi hardly troubled the home team’s backline.

Juma Phiri, Talen Vision’s manager said: “We’re speechless. Everyone is shocked because we thought we were on track to pick at least a point and we lost. It happens in football.”

Chiefs coach, Thulani Sibanda, heaped praises on his boys.

“They fought hard and when we lost Muleya we told ourselves that it’s either we lose or we win and that is why we didn’t sit back. We believed that we could win the game and fortunately Majika got the winner with the last kick of the game,” Sibanda said.

Meanwhile, an interesting encounter is on the cards at Fairbridge this afternoon when Rogers Ndlovu-coached ZRP Bulawayo play host to Casmyn who are under the guidance of former national team defender, Dazzy Kapenya.

Bosso 90 and  Amagagasi’s clash precedes the ZRP Bulawayo-Casmyn game.

Fixtures

Today: ZPC Hwange v Black Boots (Hwange), Indlovu Iyanyathela v Chiwororo (Brady Barracks), ZRP Bulawayo Province v Casmyn (Fairbridge), Zim Leopards v Mosi Rovers (Raylton), Victoria Falls Tigers v Makomo (Victoria Falls), Bosso 90 v Amagagasi (Fairbridge, 12PM)

*All matches start at 3PM unless stated

Table
P    W    D    L    F    A    GD    Pts
Bulawayo Chiefs    17    15    2    0    34    3    31    47
ZPC Hwange    18    11    5    2    32    7    25    38
Makomo    18    8    7    3    20    13    7    31
Bosso 90    18    8    5    5    20    17    3    29
Casmyn    17    6    6    5    18    12    6    24
Zim Leopards    17    6    5    6    24    28    -4    23
ZRP Bulawayo    16    5    5    6    18    19    -1    20
Black Boots    18    5    5    8    22    33    -11    20
Talen Vision    17    4    7    6    12    13    -1    19
Indlovu Iyanyathela    16    5    4    7    16    23    -7    19
Mosi Rovers    16    4    5    7    16    23    -7    17
Chiwororo    17    3    4    10    18    29    -11    13
Amagagasi    17    2    6    9    12    24    -12    12
Vic Falls Tigers    16    2    4    10    7    25    -18    10
— @ZililoR