Black Boots FC gunning for Premiership

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
AMBITIOUS police side Black Boots FC have become the first Southern Region Soccer League club to declare their intention of winning the championship and get an automatic Premiership spot.

The runners-up in the 2013 and 2014 seasons believe that 2015 is their year.

Trailing pacesetters Bulawayo Chiefs by nine points with two games at hand, Black Boots face tricky Technosphere at home knowing that nothing other than victory can keep their title hopes alive.

Gilbert Nakai, Black Boots chairman, said his team will strive to post positive results so that they attract corporate support to enable them to put a strong title challenge.

“This is our year. We’re in the league to compete and having lost the championship twice, we can’t afford to miss it again.

“We’ve assembled what we believe is a strong squad and the challenge now is on the players to do their part. As an executive we will do everything we can to make sure that we entice the corporate world to support us and motivate the players,” said Nakai.

Already, Black Boots have made a big stride in drawing corporate support with information and communication technology company, Business Optimisation Systems (BOS), getting on board.

According to Nakai, BOS are one of their strategic partners who will help the team during the Southern Region Soccer League campaign.

The police outfit is also targeting Doves, Nyaradzo and Lobels among other companies to sponsor them.

BOS have been taking care of Black Boots’ training and match day refreshments.

Herbert Dandadzi, the Bos managing director, pledged to increase their package towards the club once they win the title.

“We’ve been helping Black Boots among other police force soccer teams in kind. As a company we believe that if the corporate world doesn’t support our teams, then sport is doomed.

“We do business with the private and public services and helping this club is part of our corporate social responsibility programmes. If they win the championship, we will increase the sponsorship that we are giving them,” said Dandadzi.

He challenged Black Boots players to believe in themselves if they want to win the championship.

However, Black Boots will not have it easy as competition in the Southern Region Soccer League is intense with Bulawayo Chiefs, Bulawayo City, Ntabazinduna and ZPC Hwange being top contenders for the sole Premiership ticket.

Black Boots need to bounce back from the 0-1 defeat to Bulawayo City and catch up with title chasing pack.

Bulawayo City is away to Casmyn while table toppers Bulawayo Chiefs travel to Victoria Falls for a date with winless Trumus missing the services of dribbling wizard Ishmael Wadi.

Fixtures

Today: Trumus v Bulawayo Chiefs (Victoria Falls), Indlovu Iyanyathela v Bantu Rovers (Brad Barracks), Quelaton v Amagagasi (Nust), Casmyn v Bulawayo City (Turk Mine), ZPC Hwange v Old Nic Mine (Hwange), Black Boots v Technosphere (Fair Bridge)

Tomorrow: Makomo v Mpumalanga (Hwange)

Southern Region Soccer League Table

P W D L F A GD Pts

Bulawayo Chiefs 5 4 1 0 9 1 8 13

Bulawayo City 5 3 2 0 5 0 5 11

ZPC Hwange 5 3 2 0 5 2 3 11

Ntabazinduna 5 3 1 1 8 4 4 10

Makomo 5 2 2 1 4 4 0 8

Casmyn 5 2 1 2 4 6 -2 7

Amagagasi 4 1 3 0 4 3 1 6

Nust 5 1 3 1 4 5 -1 6

Bantu Rovers 5 1 2 2 4 5 -1 5