Zebra Revolution win tourney

Innocent Kurira , Sports Reporter

ZEBRA Revolution won the Zifa Bulawayo Division Two pre-season tournament held at Crescent Sports Club over the Easter Holidays.

Teams that took part in the competition were Biya and Friends, Bulawayo Chiefs, Nust, FMSA, Njube Spurs, ConCorb and Eagle Life.

On their way to the final, Zebra Revolution beat ConCorb 2-0 in the first round.

They progressed to the semi-final where they beat FMSA by a similar score line, a result that meant they booked a place in the final against Nust who had won 1-0 against Bulawayo Chiefs in their opening game and 1-0 again over Biya and Friends.

Nust could not make it three wins in the tournament as they were stopped in their tracks by Zebra Revolution who won the final 2-1.

Zifa Bulawayo chairman Francis Ntutha was pleased with the way the tourney panned out.

“The tournament was a big success. This was a dress rehearsal for the season ahead which we are confident will run smoothly and will be highly competitive,” said Ntutha.

Tshabalala-based Zebra Revolution is a developmental project with Under-10s, Under-13s, Under-17s and Under-23s. Now they have a Division Two side.

It was established in 2018 and is owned by ex-Highlanders, Chicken Inn and FC Platinum forward Mkhokheli Dube.

Dube hung his boots in January after a career spanning more than 20 years.

During his playing days, Dube also featured for American Major League Soccer (MLS) side New England Revolution between 2008 and 2011 before returning to play in the South African Premiership with AmaZulu in 2012.

After a short stint in Mzansi, he returned home and joined Chicken Inn in 2013 and was laid off mid-season in 2015 when the Gamecocks won their maiden Premier Soccer League (PSL) title.

He signed for Bulawayo City when the local authority side was promoted into the PSL in 2016 and then caught the eye of FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza, who signed him a year later.

Dube, who first tasted Premiership success with Highlanders two decades ago in 2001 and 2002, celebrated other PSL titles with FC Platinum in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The 39-year-old is also a holder of a Brazilian Soccer Institute (BFUT) coaching certificate, Caf C licence and a Zifa Level 3 coaching badge. – @innocentskizoe.