Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Southern Region Soccer League title race exploded into life at the weekend after log leaders Bulawayo Chiefs, suffered their first setback of the season, just as closest rivals, Hwange FC, snatched a dramatic late win on the road.
In a curious twist of fate, the two title contenders switched territories: Chiefs journeyed to Hwange, while Hwange made the trip to Bulawayo.
Chiefs had looked unstoppable, winning their opening five fixtures without conceding a goal, but all those victories came at home.
Their first away assignment proved their undoing, as defending champions Megawatt FC (formerly ZPC Hwange) handed them a reality check.
Dingani Maphosa’s 26th minute strike was enough to breach the Chiefs’ previously unbreakable defence, led by goalkeeper Matripples Muleya, for the first time this season.
Despite the stumble, Amakhosi Amahle remain top of the log with 15 points, though their cushion has now been trimmed to just two points after Hwange edged Ajax Hotspurs Movers 1-0, thanks to a stoppage time winner.
Substitute, Brian Zvakare was the hero for Hwange, whose coach Rodwell Dhlakama, will have welcomed the bounce back performance after a 2-1 defeat to Bulawayo City in their previous outing.
Hwange now sit second on 13 points. Casmyn FC are lurking in third with 12 and have been vocal about their promotion ambitions for 2025. All signs point to a tightly contested title race, one that could go down to the final day.
This season is already evoking memories of the nail biting 2019 battle, where Bulawayo City pipped Talen Vision to promotion in the final round.
Football analyst, Praise Dumie Dhlakama, sees the same kind of tension building.
“The race will likely go to the wire. Chiefs and Hwange will go all the way, probably until the last games of the season. Megawatt did their Hwange counterparts a huge favour.
“It’s going to be tough for Chiefs away from Bulawayo, just as Hwange have also dropped points outside their base, in Victoria Falls and Bulawayo,” he said.
“It will boil down to who makes the most of their home games and scrapes results away. Chiefs might have a slight edge being a Bulawayo side. But don’t write off teams like Casmyn, Bulawayo City, Bulawayo Warriors and even Nkayi United and Zebra Revolution.
“They all have quality players and seasoned coaches like Dan Ndlovu, Thulani Sibanda and Rogers Ndlovu, who understand the demands of lower division football.”
Dhlakama also praised the impact of newly promoted teams.
“I’ve been impressed by Zimisiseleni Moyo and Mthulisi Maphosa’s work with Eagle Life FC and BlackRock FC.
“Their players are hungry. The competition is fierce this season, and whoever finishes top will have to earn it.
“Every game is tough to call unless Chiefs or Hwange are playing at home,” he added.
Weekend Results
Ajax Hotspurs Movers 0–1 Hwange, Megawatt 1–0 Bulawayo Chiefs, Mainline 4–1 Imbizo, Casmyn 1–0 Eagle Life, Zebra Revolution 0–3 Bulawayo Warriors, Nust 0–1 Talen Vision, Jordan FC 1–1 Bosso 90, Vic Falls City Herentals 0–0 BlackRock
Bongani Ndlovu