Mountain Climbers FC
Sakheleni Nxumalo, Football Writer
DEBUTANTS Mountain Climbers enjoyed a perfect start to the 2022 Southern Region Division One Soccer league programme with a 3 – 0 demolition of fellow newcomers Quality Foods on Saturday.
Jabulani Ndlovu, Nicholas Ndoro and Blessing Moyo were on target as the Rodgers Ndlovu coached outfit ran rampant in a midday clash at the Luveve Stadium B Arena.
Former ZRP Bulawayo coach Ndlovu was full of praise for his charges for registering a winning start to life in the first division.
“I was impressed with the performance of the boys. They applied themselves very well, stuck to the game plan and luckily results came our way. The team is composed mainly of young stars who have come through our academy but have adjusted very well to the demands of this physical league,” he said.
After the midday clash at the Luveve B Arena, there was joy for another newcomer to the Southern Region Division One Soccer League, Cowdray Park based Ratanang, who narrowly beat fancied Talen Vision 1 – 0 in the afternoon match.
Ratanang head coach Innocent Mapuranga said they will have to guard against becoming big headed after registering a win in their season opener.
“We are happy that we managed to collect maximum points but we will have to guard against becoming complacent because after winning our first game complacency might just creep in and we have to continue playing our normal game,” said Mapuranga.
His Talen Vision counterpart Lizwe Sweswe said his charges had played well but had been let down by poor finishing.
He said: “It was a good game and both sides gave a good account of themselves. I know that at the end of the day it’s the result that matters but my boys played according to how we wanted them to play and were unfortunate to concede and not find the target themselves.”
Former top flight sides Hwange and Zimbabwe Saints also started the season on a winning note with the earlier coming from a goal down to beat Emakhandeni Pirates 3 – 1 at the Colliery while the latter edged perennial first division campaigners ZPC Hwange 2 – 1 at White City Stadium.
Earlier in the day Kudzi Mhandire coached Arenel had proven that their fine run in the pre – season Wafa Wafa tournament was no fluke as they triumphed 3 – 2 over Ajax Hotspurs in a midday clash at White City Stadium.
Youthful Bosso 90 won 2 – 0 away at Binga Pirates in the other match that was played on Saturday while the encounter between Casmyn and Indlovu Iyanyathela was postponed due to heavy rains that rendered the pitch unplayable.
