Chronicle Editor
Nkosilathi Sibanda, [email protected]
THE Zifa Matabeleland South Division Two League campaign continues to be a tight competition between Gwanda Pirates, Mawabeni and Super Strikers.
Pirates and Mawabeni are tied at pole position with 17 points after eight matches. Another championship contender, Super Strikers are third with 14 points after losing 2-0 to crosstown rivals Gwanda Pirates on Sunday.
Pirates scored through Ngqabutho Ndlovu and Terrence Kunene in the derby played at Phelandaba Stadium in Gwanda last Sunday. The match venue was packed showing how much both teams are followed in the mining town.
This was Super Strikers’ second loss in a row, having lost 1-0 to Jessie Mine the previous weekend. In the run up to the derby, Gwanda Pirates beat Unicem 3-0.
Gwanda Pirates coach, Yolamu Ngwira was an elated man after their derby victory.
“It feels good for any coach to win in such a highly charged match. I give the victory to the players, they gave their all and knew the stakes at hand. Now it’s up to us to make sure we maintain the lead,” said Ngwira.
Gwanda Pirates chairman, Guqukani Mpofu said they were on a path to re-invent themselves and aim to win the championship.
For a team that was launched earlier in the year, Mpofu said the results posted in the past eight weeks were impressive.
“This was a match we deserved to win at all costs. Thankfully, the boys did well and gave themselves the lead. Now, we are on a path to maintain dominance. We started under pressure but we managed to regain composure and scored in the second half.
“With the type of football and methodology employed by the coaches, we are definitely going somewhere. Kudos to the coach for his time in looking for players who seem to have adapted to his game plan,” said Mpofu.
Super Strikers accepted the defeat and felt they had to perform better going forward.
“We take each game as it comes. We accept the defeat to Gwanda Pirates, but the race is still on,” said the team’s manager, Cephas Tobayiwa.
He said the race was still on and they will continue working hard.
“It was a game we lost control of but we will rise again,” said Tobayiwa.
Delete FC and West Academy are in fourth and fifth position with 13 and 11 points respectively. Mawabeni won 1-0 over struggling Unicem.
Boys FC, who anchor the log fell at home 2-0 against West Academy while Delete FC and Horn Mine FC drew nil all. It was the same result in the match that pitted Stubbs and Jessie FC.
Week eight results:
Boys FC 0, West Academy 2; Delete FC 0, Horn Mine 0; Stubbs 0, Jessie 0; Mawabeni 1, Unicem 0; Super Strikers 0, Gwanda Pirates 2
Online Reporter