Simbisa Brands promoted to Northern Region Division 1

SIMBISA Brands were promoted to the ZIFA Northern Region Division One Soccer League after they defeated Royal Stars 2-0 in the play-offs at Harare Polytech Grounds at the weekend.

The Harare Province Division Two A winners faced off with the Harare Province Division One B winners to decide the sole ticket to the Northern Region League Division One.

Second-half goals from Taurai Muranganwa in the 49th minute and Tinashe Gondokondo (90th minute) were enough to win it for Simbisa Brands.

The team joins Shamva Mine and Norton Community, who were also promoted from Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West respectively.

Simbisa Brands executive Tapiwa Kayaza said he was happy that they will be playing in the second tier this year and they have a strong side that will be competitive.

“We are happy to be joining ZIFA Northern Region Division One for next season. We were very prepared for this match and we are happy that we managed to win. We regrouped a few weeks ago and we were training hard for the playoffs ever since they were confirmed.

“Royal Stars were unlucky and it was good revenge for us as we also lost to them in the Champions of Champions where they defeated us 1-0.

“The players did well and it is going to be a motivation going into the new season. We are not going to add numbers to the league but we will be competing. In the first year we will be fighting to maintain our place in the league and we will try and fight for the championship in our second year,’ he said.

Royal Stars coach Nicholas Gora was left a dejected man and said they are going to challenge for honours in Division Two.

“We were not at our best and it was difficult for us to win. We will try and do well this season and make sure that we will try and win again.

“The game was very tough and we were unfortunate but we will remain focused. We had received a letter of confirmation that we were promoted but during the off-season, we were told to play the play-offs and we are not happy,” said Gora.

ZIFA Harare Province chairman Robert Tembo said they are happy to have a team going into Division One is hopeful it will not be relegated in its single season.

“We are happy that we have a team joining ZIFA Northern Region and I hope they are going to do well and compete at the highest level. “We have a competitive League and I am sure the team will do us proud and survive relegation first season,” said Tembo.