Beefy’s City job safe
THE Bulawayo City FC executive is at peace with its team’s performance in the first half of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, with club vice-chairman Zenzo Moyo saying they were within their season’s target.
City are 12th on the league table with 20 points from 16 matches, eight points above the drop zone.
The municipal club’s points were amassed from five wins, identical 1-0 score lines against Chicken Inn, Ngezi Platinum, Mutare City, Hwange and Border Strikers. They drew with How Mine, ZPC Kariba, Highlanders, Chapungu and Triangle United.
They lost to Tsholotsho, Harare City, Caps United, Dynamos and twice to FC Platinum.
Moyo said City’s goal is a top eight finish and the club’s leadership is “fully behind” coach Philani Ncube, bringing to an end rumours that his job was under threat.
“We’ve a crazy, drunk league whereby any team can beat anyone. There are no clear favourites and as a club we’ve analysed the table and noted that just three or four consecutive wins can take us into the top six, which is very much possible,” said Moyo.
“It should also be noted that three defeats can leave us in the relegation zone, but we’re not thinking about a survival fight because we’ve a good side led by a competent technical team.
‘‘Of course, issues of inconsistency have been highlighted, but almost all the teams in the league have struggled for consistency.
‘‘We can’t fire the coach because we don’t want to rock the ship,” he said.
City take on Border Strikers at Dulivhadzimu Stadium in Beitbridge on the back of a 0-1 loss to FC Platinum.
Their opponents, who anchor the table, drew 1-1 with How Mine last weekend and will fancy their chances of upsetting City.
Moyo stoked the flames ahead of today’s encounter saying: “At City we don’t talk about relegation issues, maybe you can ask Border Strikers, Mutare City or any other team behind us about that subject.
‘‘We’re clearly not relegation material and that’s why we’ve said from the onset that our target is a top eight finish.”
Moyo risks being left eating humble pie after today’s trip to Beitbridge because the border town club may shock City.
Newly signed defensive midfielder Kelvin Madzongwe, a former Mpopoma High School pupil, who is back from the United States of America, captain Xolisani Moyo, Innocent Kutsanzira and Manuel Mandiranga will form City’s midfield with either Felix Kutswatuka and Mkhokheli Dube leading their attack.
Dube has been wasteful for City and statistics are not in favour of the veteran forward, who is yet to score in 16 league games.
Madzongwe had a terrific game against FC Platinum and will be key in destroying Strikers if he maintains his form.
The table anchors will, among other players, bank on Talent Sande, Shelton Mazumba, David Tito, Michael Variso, Godfrey Mukambi, Kudzanai Kwashi and Prince Sibanda. — @ZililoR