adminLeague after beating ZPC (Hwange) in a Zifa Southern Region Buscod Division One Soccer League match on Saturday.
Quelaton reached an unassailable 68 points with just two games remaining before the season ends after beating ZPC (Hwange) 3-2 at the weekend while second placed Railstars surrendered their title chase after a 2-2 draw with Hwange Juniors.
Thulani ‘Thuts’ Sibanda, the Quelaton’s coach, was a happy man.
“I am very happy to be part of this history. Winning the championship has not been an easy road.
“Some might think we did this in a season but we have been trying for the past three years. “The only difference is that this time we managed to correct our past mistakes and held onto our lead from the beginning of the season.
“The boys did well and without hard work in all areas, achieving this (winning the title) will not have been possible,” said Sibanda.
He spoke highly of his club’s chairman James Rugwevera who acquired the players recommended by the technical team, former Quelaton coaches Cosmas ‘Tsano’ Zulu and Dickson Mbazo. Sibanda said he also sought advice from Chicken Inn head coach Philani ‘Beefy’ Ncube and former Entumbane Cosmos gaffer Farai Sibanda when the championship race got really hot.
“Apart from my assistant Clement Chimimba, I asked for tactical guidance from the likes of Beefy (Ncube) and Farai Sibanda whom I coached with at Entumbane Cosmos.
“These guys had brilliant ideas, which lifted us in times of crisis management when things were getting tough.
“Chimimba did a great thing in terms of physical and tactical conditioning of the players. “We really had a good relationship with Chimimba and even the players were respectful,” said Sibanda.
Of the 15 other teams in the league, Sibanda said their toughest encounters were against Black Boots, Emakhandeni Pirates, How Mine, Hwange Juniors and Makokoba City Warriors who handed them their first league defeat.
Makokoba City Warriors beat Quelaton 1-0 at Luveve in June.
Sibanda also showered praise on skipper Innocent ‘Joker’ Kutsanzira for possessing leadership qualities.
The jubilant Quelaton gaffer said he became confident of winning the title after the mid-season transfer window.
“We strengthened our strikeforce during the mid-season transfer by getting seasoned strikers like Njabulo ‘Tshiki’ Ncube from Highlanders, Patrick ‘Mboma’ Mpofu from Shooting Stars and Patrick ‘Tom’ Kaunda from Kiglon.
“After that we consolidated our top spot and picked maximum points throughout.
“The boys really showed some character and never succumbed to pressure,” said Sibanda.
Zifa Southern Region chairman Gift Banda congratulated Quelaton for winning the championship.
“They (Quelaton) were the best team in the league and made the championship race interesting.
“As the management of the Zifa Southern Region we wish them all the best as they go into the top-flight.
“It is our hope that they will go to the Premiership and stamp their authority. We do not want a situation whereby they are promoted and next year they are relegated,” said Banda.
Meanwhile, the survival battle continued at the weekend with Makokoba City Warriors picking maximum points against Power Cosmos, whom they beat 3-0.
Online Reporter