malvernmugadzikwa
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE 2025 ZIFA Southern Region Soccer League will have three teams from the Premier Soccer League following the last-day demotion of Hwange and Bulawayo Chiefs yesterday, who join already relegated Arenel Movers.
This was on a day when an all-female line-up of match officials took charge of a Premier Soccer League match for the first time in Zimbabwe.
Bulawayo Chiefs took the lead before losing 2-1 at Manica Diamonds, while Hwange suffered a 2-0 loss against Bikita Minerals, who escaped the chop in the process. Arenel Movers became the first team to be officially relegated from the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Chegutu Pirates will make their way back to the Northern Region Soccer League after just one season in the top flight, as was Arenel Movers.
Bulawayo Chiefs were the best placed of the relegation candidates as they had destiny in their own hands at Sakubva Stadium.
They needed three points without worrying about results elsewhere and they looked on course when they took the lead off a 62nd-minute penalty by Migoz Svinurai.
Manica Diamonds turned the tables with two goals in two minutes.
Evans Katema equalised from the spot in the 82nd minute and the goal was timely for his former club, Bikita Minerals, who were leading against Hwange at Wadzanai Stadium.
Michael Tapera then won the game for Manica Diamonds two minutes later.
After the match, Katema said: “When I scored that goal, my aim was to help my team Manica Diamonds to win the match.
“It is good news that Bikita Minerals have survived because it will give the club more time to adjust to the demands of Premiership football, but my goal was solely for a better result for Manica Diamonds.”
A visibly disappointed Bulawayo Chiefs coach Thulani Sibanda said his team played well.
He seemed to blame poor officiating.
“There are things they are not in control of. I think we did our best as a team. We played well and managed to take the lead,” he said. “However, we surrendered the lead. There are things we do not have control over, hence we cannot say much about that. We will go back, regroup and see the way forward as a team.”
Manica Diamonds coach Jairos Tapera, who is also not certain about his future at the Mutare diamond miners, was elated with the victory..
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“We deserved to win this match after dominating the greater part of it. We are happy to have ended the season with a win and secured a top four finish.
“It ensures we get more Premiership football experience. We will now focus on our goals for the next season,” he said.
At Wadzanai, second-half goals from Tinashe Ruzive and Barnabas Mtuche ensured Bikita Minerals benefitted from Bulawayo Chiefs’ defeat in Mutare.
At the GreenFuel Arena, GreenFuel beat Dynamos 2-1 to complete the season unbeaten at home in the first full season using the Chisumbanje venue.
The hosts dominated play and took a 12th-minute lead through Donald Ngoma, who scored his eighth goal of the season.
It did not take Dynamos too long to respond as they found the back of the net 10 minutes later.
Sadney Uri-Khob demonstrated a striker’s instinct, ghosting between defenders, but his headed effort was saved by GreenFuel goalkeeper Tapiwa Chilenga.
Despite his reflex save, Chilenga was hapless as Uri-Khob was the quickest to react and score from a rebound.
GreenFuel eventually got their winning goal 10 minutes from full-time when Dynamos’ Frederick Ansa-Botchway did not play to the whistle after he was pulled, giving Collins Dhuwa a free passage of play to set up Chris Ngwende, whose lob was beyond goalkeeper Tatenda Makoni’s reach.
Despite the defeat, Dynamos assistant coach Joel Luphahla was happy with his charges as they prepare for their biggest match this season — The Chibuku Super Cup.
“Congratulations for a very good game from the home team, credit to them. It was an entertaining match, our boys played very well and the only negative is that we lost. The boys were not committing in some of the challenges maybe because they are already thinking about our next important fixture,” he said.
“We take this defeat as technical, and we will take positives going into our biggest game of the season for our club because we have a chance of getting some silverware as we play the final at the weekend.”
GreenFuel assistant coach Taurai Mangwiro was happy with the win, as his team finished the season on a high, preserving their unbeaten record at home.
“It’s a sweet victory for us and we are happy with the response after a morale-sapping defeat against Yadah FC last week,” he said. “We are happy to finish the season on a positive note. We protected our home record and we remain the only team to have not lost at their base and it gives us every reason to rejoice.”
The other three matches ended goalless, with FC Platinum hosting TelOne at Mandava Stadium, while Arenel Movers and Chegutu Pirates’ stalemate was at Luveve Stadium.
At Rufaro Stadium, history was made as ZIFA appointed an all-female line-up of match officials for the Herentals versus Chicken Inn clash.
The all-female cast officials were led by match commissioner Kuda Chirimba.
Grace Gimo was the match referee, assisted by Claris Simango and Progress Chatsamwa, while Thanks Nyahuye was the fourth official.
ZIFA Referees Committee chairperson Norman Matemera described the historic event as a step in the right direction.
“We had a five-woman team to officiate in this match, Herentals versus Chicken Inn, being the last game of the season. We are moving in the right direction,” he said.
“This is a great milestone. This is the first of its kind and, of course, everything is the first step. This is the first step. I hope even in Division One, Division Two, we must do the same.”
He praised the ladies for putting up a good performance.
“We are happy with the performance that they’ve given today. And we hope this is a stepping stone. Next season, going forward, we should be having more matches where women are taking control,” said the referees’ boss.
Chicken Inn assistant coach Fungai “Tostao” Kwashi echoed Matemera’s sentiments on the all-female referees.
“I would also like to thank PSL for assigning lady referees to commission the game,” he said. “It’s very good for football, that we empower women. I think they did a decent job and they should be given more games. The more games these ladies are given, the more they will get better and better.
“But I thought they did a fantastic job.”
Online Reporter