Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
ARMY side Indlovu Iyanyathela got their 2016 Zifa Southern Region Division One League campaign off to a shaky start by losing 1-3 to a fired up Blackboots at Headquarters One Brigade yesterday.
Not even the presence of deputy commander One Infantry Brigade Colonel Mpulaeng Siziba could inspire the soldiers to up their game.
The army team looked disjointed from the first whistle up to the halfway mark and it was not a surprise when they went to the breather trailing 3-0.
Double scorer Tendai Zaza and Adam Nyaruwata grabbed Blackboots’ goals.
Indlovu Iyanyathela, who are coached by Arnold Mawere, pulled one back deep into the second half through a beauty by Thulani Mazvizvi, who scored from just outside the 18 yard arc after the home side was awarded a set piece.
“It’s sad to lose your opening game of the season and worse at home. We gave away possession unnecessarily at the back and we were duly punished as a result,” said Mawere after the game.
Blackboots’ assistant coach Kudzayi Mtuda said his boys utilised the chances that came their way, especially in the first half.
“We managed to bang our chances. The first game is always important and now that we’re down and dusted, we’re looking forward to our next assignment,” said Mtuda.
Meanwhile, Division One league games continue this afternoon with a clash between two debutant police sides ZRP Bulawayo and ZRP Hwange at Fairbridge.
ZRP Bulawayo will be playing their first game in Division One, while it will be game number two for ZRP Hwange, who opened their campaign with a 0-1 loss to Technosphere last weekend.
Tomorrow, another debutant side Talen Vision will get a real test of Division One football when they play host to Bulawayo Chiefs at White City Stadium, while Technosphere will again be involved in another derby when they host ZPC Hwange in a clash expected to produce fireworks. Technosphere have a number of former ZPC Hwange players that are eager to prove a point to their former paymasters.
Fixtures
Today: ZRP Byo v ZRP Hwange (Fairbridge)
Tomorrow: Talen Vision v Bulawayo Chiefs (White City), Blackboots v Casmyn (Fair Bridge),
Technosphere v ZPC Hwange (Hwange), Amagagasi v Ntabazinduna (Vic Falls), Makomo v Bosso 90 (Hwange), Sunday: Vic Falls Tigers v Indlovu Iyanyathela (Vic Falls)