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Bukhosi Mangena Sports Correspondent
ZIFA Southern Region Division One outfit Bulawayo Chiefs’ chairman Lovemore Sibanda is bullish about his club’s prospects of securing promotion into the Premier Soccer League this season despite losing four senior players during the off-season.

Midfielder Ishmael Wadi, goalkeeper Wallace Magalane and defender Last Sithole were lured to Zvishavane by Premiership side FC Platinum, while former captain Lindelani Ncube joined city rivals Bantu Rovers.

Chiefs were neck-on-neck with eventual Division One winners Bulawayo City for the better part of the 2015 season, but lost ground towards the end.

“We lost quite a number of players, but that is nothing new to us.

“What I can tell you is that we have enough young players to carry the torch and I believe this is our season,” said Sibanda.

“Our aim last season was to build a team and not to win the championship, but nevertheless we nearly got there and this shows that we will win it as this is our main priority this year,” he said.

The club once won promotion into the PSL back in 2013, but sold its franchise to Bantu Rovers and remained in Division One.

It also changed its name to Plumtree Chiefs for the 2014 season, but was beaten to the title by Tsholotsho FC.

The club then reverted to the name Bulawayo Chiefs for the 2015 campaign and emerged runners-up to Bulawayo City, finishing 13 points behind.