Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HWANGE’S Southern Region Soccer League outfit Technosphere completed a double over title aspirants Bulawayo City when they beat them 1-0 at Luveve Stadium on Saturday.
Technosphere’s win brought Bulawayo City’s 12-match unbeaten run to a halt.
The coal miners’ team is one of the two teams to collect maximum points against City in the first half of the season. The other team is Casmyn who were the last club to beat the championship favourites on Week 9, managing a massive 3-0 win in Hwange.
On Saturday, Bekithemba Nyoni rose from the bench to convert a second half penalty that ensured Technosphere maximum points.
Technosphere assistant coach, former Highlanders striker Thamsanqa Vundla, praised his charges for a disciplined performance and said the victory against City was not a fluke.
“We really prepared for this game and we knew that for us to get a point we had to close City in the midfield and be on the lookout for a blind side attack. Our game plan was to sit back and get them on attack, hence the resultant penalty we got as we were breaking for goal. I think the other thing is that they needed the win more than us which made them vulnerable,” said Vundla.
City’s defeat saw their seven-point lead reduced to four by Bulawayo Chiefs who clobbered anchors Mpumalanga 6-0. The local authority owned club is on 49 points.
City who are still on course to secure PSL promotion despite the loss, said the result was a wakeup call.
Their next encounter is against Nust who they beat 3-0 in the reverse fixture through goals by ex-Bosso defender Bruce Tshuma, Ryan Mabhena and former Quelaton midfielder Eddie Nkulungo.
“I think the loss will motivate the boys to work harder. For us, nothing has changed and we remain on track,” said City’s assistant coach Farai Mujokoro.
With a number of experienced players in their squad, City have a potential to bounce back to winning ways and keep their campaign on track.
City cannot afford to lose any game now as that will allow Chiefs, who were weekend’s biggest scoreline winners, to further close the gap and exert pressure on them.
Chiefs beat Mpumalanga 6-0 getting their goals from Proud Zireni, Desire Shumbanhete and double scorers Joseph Mutambiranwa and Mkhululi Dube.
Casmyn’s 0-0 draw against Black Boots cost them the third spot to Bantu Rovers who walked over Old Nic Mine to take their points tally to 37, one above Casmyn.
Victoria Falls-based side Amagagasi beat Agent Sawu’s Ntabazinduna 1-0 while Bekithemba “Super” Ndlovu’s army side Indlovu Iyanyathela lost 2-1 to the Tapela Ngwenya coached Makomo.
Weekend Results
Nust 2-1 Trumus, Casmyn 0-0 Black Boots, Ntabazinduna 0-1 Amagagasi, Old Nic Mine 0-3 Bantu Rovers, Bulawayo Chiefs 6-0 Mpumalanga, Hwange Juniors 0-1 ZPC Hwange, Bulawayo City 0-1 Technosphere, Indlovu Iyanyathela 2-1 Makomo