Philani Ncube
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO City captain Xolisani Moyo believes the underdog tag suits his team and also serves to relieve them of any pressure in their quest to climb into the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League top eight.
City, who were formed in 2006 and only promoted into the topflight after winning the Zifa Southern Region Division One League in 2015 after spending just a single season in Division One, registered their maiden Premiership win last weekend by shocking champions Chicken Inn 1-0.
The win was not a fluke, as the municipal side had held Bulawayo giants Highlanders 1-1 the previous week. In fact, the PSL debutants were denied what would have been a famous maiden Premiership win over Bosso by some dubious officiating.
However, for their performance must have served as a notice to other teams that they were in the PSL to compete and would not be pushovers as other teams that are overawed by the topflight and return to the lower league after just one season.
Moyo said breaking the duck by beating champions Chicken Inn had set them for more victories.
“I think being seen as underdogs even though we match other teams in terms of talent suits us because it makes us play with ease and enjoy our game,” said Moyo.
“The coming matches will be key for us because we got the breakthrough we’d been looking for. We knew that there was no way we were going to lose to Chicken Inn after drawing with Highlanders. We are now working on getting our next win. We want to be in the top eight and see where we will end the season,” Moyo said.
City are in 10th place with six points from five games. They started their campaign with a 2-2 draw against How Mine followed by a 0-1 loss to Tsholotsho and then identical 1-1 draws against ZPC Kariba and Highlanders before upsetting Chicken Inn.
Moyo said they hoped to continue riding on the underdogs’ tag although they have a number of players with Premiership experience.
Moyo, 26, had stints with Chicken Inn and How Mine in the PSL before moving to City in Division One. He has been inspirational for City in the opening five games and has protected his defence well as the team’s anchorman. He is actually one player to watch this season.
Defenders Brighton Dube, Nyasha Mukumbi, Zibusiso Sibanda, Morris Kadzola and Terrence Majo all have PSL experience, so do midfielders Mthulisi Maphosa, Manuel Mandiranga, Welcome Ndiweni, Eddie Nkulungo and Innocent Kutsanzira.
Strikers Mkhokheli Dube, Thomas Chimenya and Mkhululi Moyo also boast of Premiership experience.
Moyo says their strength has been their ability to defend and they were now working on their shortcomings in attack.
“Defensively we’re good, but we have to keep working on our finishing. We’ve got a balanced side and a good coach, which makes us very dangerous underdogs. We also have a number of exciting youngsters in our team whom I believe will be a dangerous lot given time,” Moyo said.
The youngsters Moyo is referring to include former Highlanders’ junior player Lewis Ncube, who has been switched from right-back to a winger, midfielder Sipho Ndlovu, who was signed from Technosphere, and attacking midfielder Humphrey Ncube, the son of former Zimbabwe international Rabson Muchichwa.
City’s coach Philani Ncube, who won the 2009 Coach of the Year award, spoke highly of his youngsters, whom he described as the future of the club.
“What we want to do is stabilise the ship with seasoned players and introduce youngsters bit by bit. These youngsters are the future of the club and to be successful and to aid the development of football in Bulawayo, we’ve to give youngsters a chance,” said Ncube.
“I’m happy with the way we’ve started because even though most of my guys have PSL experience, they were in the lower league. They are all beginning to understand the PSL demands and my philosophy. We’re here to compete and if we manage a top eight finish, we will be happy,” he said.
On Sunday City would be hoping to pile more misery on third from bottom side Chapungu when they face off at Barbourfields Stadium.