adminMzingaye Sibanda Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO soccer fraternity had all the reasons to celebrate yesterday when Highlanders leapt to the top of the Castle Lager Premiership and another city club won promotion.
Bulawayo Chiefs, who are coached by Thulani Sibanda booked their place in the Premier Soccer League after second placed Black Boots drew 2-2 with Ntabazinduna Prison in a Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League match played in Ntabazinduna.
The result meant that Black Boots can only finish the season with 62 points from their last two matches. They seemed to have been given an opportunity to gain promotion to the elite league when Bantu Rovers held Bulawayo Chiefs to a 0-0 draw in Plumtree on Saturday.
But yesterday Black Boots had themselves to blame when they failed to beat the prison warders leaving Chiefs to gain promotion without kicking the ball as they will this weekend get points for their match against Mkhosana who have since pulled out of the league due to financial problems.
The Support Unit side were shot into the lead in the sixth minute by Tashinga Mungadzi after a defence error by the Ntabazinduna defence.
Ntabazinduna equalised in the dying minutes of the second half as they grabbed the equaliser through Ishmael Tayengwa in the 43rd minute.
Black Boots regained their lead a minute later from a well-taken freekick by former Cyprus based Thabani Moyo which landed on Josphat Matanga for an easy tap in. Ntabazinduna began the second half on a high note as they dictated the tempo with Tayengwa and Success Sibanda controlling the game.
Sibanda grabbed the equaliser for Ntabazinduna in the 67th minute after dribbling past Black Boots defender Golden Kamanga before beating goalkeeper Leonard Phiri with a chip.
Black Boots coach Kudzai Mutuda said it was a heart breaking loss and a tough match considering the fact that Ntabazinduna are fighting relegation.
“I’m not happy as you can see, it was a tough match considering the fact that they are fighting relegation,” said Mutuda.
He said they would go back to the drawing board and prepare for a fight for Premiership promotion next season.
“Maybe we have to prepare for the next season, that’s all I can say,” he said.
Ntabazinduna coach Agent Sawu said they lost two valuable points in their quest to survive relegation.
“We lost two valuable points and now we just have to concentrate on our next game away,” said Sawu.
He however said he was optimistic they will survive relegation as they are targeting to win all their remaining matches.
It was all smiles for Bulawayo chiefs coach Thulani Sibanda and his technical bench who travelled to watch the game.
Sibanda who rescued Chiefs’ campaign a few weeks ago when he was brought back from Bantu Rovers, said he was happy to win the Southern Region Championship for the second time. In 2011 he led Quelaton to the Castle Lager Premiership.
Bulawayo Chiefs join new boys Chapungu and Hippo Valley who booked their place in the top-flight league next season.
Log
P W D L F A Pts
Byo Chiefs 28 20 3 6 43 18 60
Black Boots 28 15 11 2 47 19 56
Bantu Rovers 28 15 5 8 30 17 50
Technosphere 28 14 4 10 38 26 46
New West City 28 12 8 8 34 31 44
Tsholotsho 28 12 7 9 33 25 43
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