Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO City FC moved closer to the Premier Soccer League following their 2-1 victory over Casmyn in a Southern Region Soccer League match on Sunday.City now need seven points from a possible 15 to be crowned champions and write their own piece of history by earning a Premier Soccer League ticket at the first attempt.
The local municipality bankrolled side laboured to victory against a Casmyn side that gave them a good run, only to collapse in the dying stages of the game.
Seasoned striker Qinani “Chroma” Sibanda scored City’s winning goal in the last 10 minutes of the second half to take their points tally to 58. City’s captain Xolisani “Scara” Moyo had fired his side into a first half lead before the visitors equalised through Nyasha Manzunzu. The championship favourites’ performance earned praises from chairman Jerry Sibanda, who declared that the title was now theirs to lose.
“By being at the top of the table, we’re the team to beat and every team that we play always raises their game when they face us. I must commend the technical team led by Philani Ncube and the players for their fighting spirit,” said Sibanda.
“Casmyn really gave us a good run for our money. They were tactically disciplined, which made our guys work extra hard so that we unlock their defence. Despite being nine points clear, we won’t be taking the pedal off until the last game because in football, complacency can be costly.
“The destiny is now in our hands, hence the need to continue winning,” he said. City have a good coach in Ncube, one of the few gaffers to win the PSL Coach of the Year award. Ncube assembled a strong side at the beginning of the year, blending experienced players with upcoming talent.
With the PSL slot almost guaranteed, City will not be making major changes to their squad when they get to the topflight. Some of the players that the Southern Region Soccer League leaders will bank on in the last few games and in the PSL include strikers Mkhokheli Dube, Sibanda, former national team fringe player Simba Sithole, Moyo, Makhosi Ncube and goalkeeper Ndodana Sibanda.
City’s defence has been watertight, only conceding six goals in 25 games. Their defensive pillars have been Zibusiso Sibanda, former Highlanders captain Innocent Mapuranga, Bruce Tshuma as well as Lewis “Rambo” Ncube. With Bulawayo Chiefs nine points adrift of City, the leaders are likely to give their fringe players game time in the last two matches of the season in the event that they bag the seven points in their next three assignments.
City’s next three games are away to Black Boots, who played a 1-1 draw against Ntabazinduna at the weekend, ZPC Hwange (home) and a trip to Victoria Falls to face Trumus. While City laboured to a 2-1 victory over Casmyn, Chiefs cruised to a 2-0 win over Trumus. Mengezi Dube and Kundishora Chakanyuka were on target for Chiefs.
Results
Saturday: Old Nic Mine 0-3 ZPC Hwange, Ntabazinduna 1-1 Black Boots, Technosphere 2-0 Hwange Juniors
Sunday: Amagagasi 0-0 Nust, Mpumalanga 1-3 Makomo, Bulawayo City 2-1 Casmyn, Bantu Rovers 0-1 Indlovu Iyanyathela, Bulawayo Chiefs 2-0 Trumus
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Ntabazinduna v Mpumalanga (Ntabazinduna)
P W D L F A GD Pts
Bulawayo City 25 18 4 3 35 6 29 58
Bulawayo Chiefs 25 14 7 4 37 11 26 49
ZPC Hwange 25 12 10 3 27 10 17 46
Casmyn 25 12 6 7 27 21 6 42
Makomo 25 12 6 7 24 18 6 42
Technosphere 25 12 7 6 29 15 14 40
Bantu Rovers** 25 12 4 9 28 14 12 40
Indlovu Iyanyathela 25 10 6 9 18 18 0 37
Black Boots 25 7 13 5 25 19 7 34
Amagagasi 25 8 9 8 19 20 -1 33
Ntabazinduna 24 7 8 9 21 20 1 29
Trumus Warriors 25 4 10 11 12 21 -9 22
Nust 25 4 11 10 16 25 -9 20
Hwange Juniors 25 4 7 14 14 32 -18 19
Mpumalanga 24 2 3 19 8 44 -36 9
Old Nic Mine 25 1 6 18 7 52 -45 9
**Points deducted for using a suspended player