adminTakudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
VETERAN coach Jostein Mathuthu wrote his own piece of history when he became the first gaffer to bring Premiership football to the resort town of Kariba. Mathuthu, who took over the hot seat at ZPC Kariba at the beginning of the season, saw his team beat Twalumba 3-1 at home at Chaminuka Stadium on Saturday to book their place in the Premier League for the first time in the history of the club.
Mashonaland West has not had a Premiership side since Eiffel Wildcats collapsed and the province, which used to be the home of the mighty Mhangura and Rio Tinto, but will now have a team that will play in the country’s top-flight league.
ZPC Kariba’s win saw them taking their points tally to an unassailable 72 as Twalumba remained on 61.
The win was the first for ZPC Kariba against Twalumba since 2011, with their best performance coming last season when they managed draws in both fixtures.
Twalumba had earlier this year dismissed the champions 2-0 at Dzivarasekwa in the first leg encounter.
Mathuthu is now credited with bringing two teams into the Premiership after he guided Kambuzuma United in 2002.
Mathuthu said he was happy to bring happiness to the Kariba community and said it was a tough journey to get to the Promised Land.
“I am so happy for the technical staff for a job well done. It is unprecedented history for us to be the first to bring top-flight football to Kariba,” Mathuthu said.
“The journey was very challenging and losing four games shows how competitive the league is.
“At first we were not working in tandem with the supporters but they later realised that we should just work together.
“Kariba is a small community and they gave us the support.
“When we travelled after the game they would call asking for the results and it was something good because everyone was interested in the performance of the team.”
Mathuthu said it felt special to have secured the championship in their own backyard.
“It was good to win the promotion at Chaminuka as we celebrated together with the community. Beating Twalumba makes one feel good as a coach and I am happy to have achieved that,” said Mathuthu.
The gaffer, whose contract will run out in December, said he has no plans for next year as yet as they are still to hear from the club’s administrators on the way forward.
“I have no plans as to what the team will be like next year, but all I can promise is the team will remain in Kariba and will not look for alternative venues.
“We worked as a team throughout the season and everyone performed well when given the chance, so I think the team has been good.
“We used to rotate the team regularly and everyone who was given an opportunity did well, so we won as a team,” said Mathuthu.
ZPC Kariba’s decision to recruit seasoned players like Tinei Chatora, Artwell Nyamwiwa and Raphael Manuwire gave them the edge over their rivals.
Northern Region Results
ZPC Kariba 3, Twalumba 1; Chegutu Pirates 1, Flame Lilly 3; Mushowani 1, Powermaster 1; Starbill 1, Gunners 2; Dstv Rangers 0, Blue Rangers 0; ZRP Morris 1, Jumbo 0; Commando 1, DC Academy 0; Banket 6, Forrester 0; Lake Harvest 3, JMC 0 (Walk Over after JMC failed to travel)
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