adminRicky Zililo Sports Reporter
THE curtain came down on the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League at the weekend with three teams – Rufaro Rovers, Ajax Hotspurs and Mkhosana being relegated.Victoria Falls’ Mkhosana and Ajax Hotspurs of Mpopoma spent just a season in the second tier league while failure to fulfil some of their fixtures might have cost Hwange’s Rufaro Rovers their slot.
The Dalubuhle Bhebhe coached Zimbabwe National Army powered Bulawayo Jumbos lived to fight another day in the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League as they will know their fate at the end of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season.
In an interview yesterday, Zifa administrator Augustine Ndlovu, who should be applauded for running a flawless league, confirmed that Rufaro Rovers, Ajax Hotspurs and Mkhosana had been relegated.
“Our season is over and we had an exciting one which saw two teams Bulawayo Chiefs and Black Boots taking the championship race to Week 29.
“It shows that our league was very competitive save for a few incidents where Mkhosana had to withdraw from the league due to financial challenges and Rufaro Rovers also lost out because they failed to attend some of their away and home fixtures.
“There were also teams like Zimbabwe Saints and Quelaton among others that were walked over. Now we are waiting for the Premiership to end and in the event that there is a team from the Southern Region that will be relegated, then our fourth from the bottom club in this case Bulawayo Jumbos will have to make way for them,” said Ndlovu.
On their way out of the League, Ajax Hotspurs were massacred 7-0 in their last match at the weekend by Ntabazinduna Prison while the Rufaro Rovers and Mkhosana tie was not played.
Bulawayo Jumbos also lost their last match of the season 1-2 to Tsholotsho FC who finished their year on position five behind champions Bulawayo Chiefs, Black Boots, Bantu Rovers and Hwange’s Technosphere.
Four teams from the Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North Provinces will be promoted into the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League.
From the Bulawayo Metropolitan league, Old Nick Mine and Portland Cement look on course for promotion while Trumus Warriors of Victoria Falls, Hwange’s Kabwe Warriors, Amagagasi and Baobab Rovers are all vying for the two slots from Matabeleland North.
Results
Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League
Saturday: Mpumalanga 3, Zimbabwe Saints 0; Tsholotsho FC 2, Bulawayo Jumbos 1; Quelaton 0, Technosphere 3; Ntabazinduna Prison 7, Ajax Hotspurs 0; New West 1, Bantu Rovers 1; Bulawayo Chiefs 1, Hwange Juniors 0; ZPC Hwange 4, Black Boots 0
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