Arenel stun Zifa Southern Region favourites Adachi

ARENEL FC made a huge statement of their title credentials after they beat a strongly assembled Adachi FC in a Southern Region Division One encounter played at White City Stadium at the weekend.

A solitary strike from Leeroy Ndlovu was enough against their more fancied opponents.

The victory was Arenel’s first of the season after playing out to a draw in their opener. They are also fresh from winning the provincial Uhuru Cup final in which they beat Indlovu Iyanyathela at White City Stadium on Independence Day.

Arenel coach Kudzayi Mhandire was happy his charges played according to the game plan.

“It was a good match on paper and on the field of play with the two teams being the talk of the town.

We are coming from a good season last year and they have a well assembled squad. Our game plan was to starve them of the ball because we knew they are good in possession so we wanted them to chase the ball instead and in doing so they opened spaces which we utilised.

“The unfortunate part is we could not convert all the chances that we created. The score line is not a true reflection of how the game went because we could have scored more had their keeper not made close to seven good saves to deny us,” said Mhandire.

Arenel finished third last season, behind league winners Hwange and ZPC Hwange. They also managed to book a place in the final of the Wafa Wafa knockout competition which they lost on penalties to Hwange.

They will face strong competition for pole position from the likes of Adachi and ZPC Hwange.

Adachi Football Club is coached by Philani “Beefy” Ncube and Highlanders goalkeepers’ trainer Peter “Oxo” Nkomo and ex-Warriors midfielder Johannes Ngodzo.

Besides working for Highlanders, a club that gave him fame, Nkomo has also had attachments with FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum Stars.

Ngodzo, who led Bantu Rovers to the Premiership after winning the 2016 Southern Region title previously assisted Ncube at Bulawayo City.

Former Railstars and Njube Sundowns striker Sizalobuhle Dube is the club’s team manager with ex-Bulawayo City kit manager.

They have experienced players in their ranks that include Welcome Ndiweni and Crispen Machisi.
Southern Region Division One Results Ratanang 4-1 Mountain climbers, Zimbabwe Saints 0-1 Talen Vision, Mosi Rovers 3-2 Mainline, Arenel 1-0 Adachi, Bosso 90 3-0 Emakhandeni, CIWU 1-1 Ajax — @innocentskizoe