CABS are FSSL champions
AFTER sealing their maiden Financial Services Soccer League championship title, CABS have set their targets on the PayServ Cup and complete a memorable season.
CABS who had already secured the 2018 FSSL title with three games to spare put an icing on the cake when they ensured they finished the season unbeaten following a 2-1 away win over seasoned campaigners Standard Chartered Bank. They will now fancy their chances in the Payserv Cup scheduled for November 3-4.
Goals by Malvern Muchenu and William Ngozo helped CABS complete their season programme unbeaten with coach Casper Haatumwi’s men winning 17 and drawing just once in their 18 games for a total 52 points.
Their nearest rivals FBC, beaten 2-1 at home by CBZ over the weekend, have 41 points and can only finish on 44 if they win their final game while Old Mutual completed their season with a 5-0 thrashing of Payserv but remained unchanged in third place with 40 points.
CABS chairman Ivan Vambe and his crew which also includes secretary Gerald Taruza and committee members Chrispen Phiri and Muchenu, will no doubt have something to brag about after ending 18 years of waiting for their first league title.
Coach Haatumwi said his charges grew in confidence as the season wore on and cited their first ever triumph over giants FBC and the rare back to back successes over Standard Chartered some of the highlights of the marathon.
Club boss Vambe said their success was largely attributed to a change in approach to their pre-season this year.
“With support from our employer and principal sponsor we changed our approach to pre-season and made sure that we were well prepared both in terms of match fitness and combinations by the time the league kicked off.
“Maintaining the same team for the past three seasons also improved communication and collaboration within the team because the players now know one another better,’’ Vambe said.
Vambe said although their triumph was down to teamwork, there had been some outstanding performers such as Dumisani Vuma, goalkeeper Leonard Chiremba and Muchenu.
“It’s difficult to single out one player but I would say our most influential players were Malvin Muchenu and Dumisani Vuma who led from the front from the onset. The two are veterans of the league and would lift the team when the going got tough at some stage. Our keeper Lenard Chiremba was brilliant all season and made crucial saves in key games,’’ Vambe said.