adminRicky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
MPUMALAMGA United will be praying that all Castle Lager Premier Soccer League teams from the southern region remain in the top flight so that they retain their Southern Region Soccer League slot for next season.
Members of the Zifa Southern Region agreed at their mid-year meeting to increase teams from 16 to 18 for next season.
With Bulawayo City winning promotion to the PSL last week and Old Nic Mine expelled from the league for failing to pay affiliation fees, the Southern Region Soccer League can afford not to axe a team in the event that no PSL side from this region is relegated.
Four teams; two from the Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Province’s Division Two and two from Matabeleland North will be promoted into the First Division.
“As for relegation, Mpumalanga are in danger of being axed and can only survive if Tsholotsho FC or any other team in the PSL from this part of the country is not relegated. As a region, we’re praying that we don’t find ourselves being forced to accommodate a relegated PSL team,” said Zifa Southern Region board member Jabulani Chinyangarara.
On Saturday, Mpumalanga pulled a shocker by beating Casmyn 1-0 in Hwange. It was their fourth victory of the season, but they are still eight points behind Hwange Juniors, who were beaten 0-2 by Bulawayo Chiefs in Bulawayo.
The focus in the Southern Region is now the battle for a top four finish between ZPC Hwange and Bantu Rovers.
Second placed Chiefs and Technosphere have already secured their top four slots following their respective wins.
Chiefs beat Hwange Juniors 2-0 while Technosphere edged Trumus 1-0 on Saturday.
ZPC Hwange are fourth on the table, tied on 50 points with fifth placed Bantu Rovers.
The electricity generators were held to a 0-0 draw by Amagagasi in Victoria Falls, while Bantu Rovers beat Black Boots 3-1 at Luveve Stadium.
“I’m happy that despite the fact that we had injuries, we managed to beat Black Boots. It was a good outing for the boys and I’m happy with their performance. Getting a top four finish will be good consolation for us, having failed to land the championship. What we want is to end the season on a good note and that’s what we intend to do,” said Bantu Rovers coach Johannes Ngodzo.
Bantu Rovers were without the injured Richard Jongwe, Annot Tshidzani Malaba, Bongani Sikwili, Gladman Bharibhari and Nkosilathi “Rambo” Dube for the Black Boots game.
ZPC Hwange and Bantu Rovers will clash in the last game of the season in Hwange.
The electricity generators will be content with a draw to grab the last top-four spot, while Bantu Rovers will need nothing short of victory to beat ZPC Hwange to the fourth slot.
Results
Saturday: Bulawayo Chiefs 2-0 Hwange Juniors, Bantu Rovers 3-1 Black Boots, Bulawayo City 2-0 Makomo, Amagagasi 0-0 ZPC Hwange, Mpumalanga 1-0 Casmyn, Old Nic Mine 0-3 Nust, Ntabazinduna 0-0 Indlovu Iyanyathela, Technosphere 1-0 Trumus
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