The Sunday News
Mandla Moyo, Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO Social Soccer League (BSSL) entered its final stretch that saw a number of heavyweights within the league in terms of history as well as log table standings posting a bag of mixed results.
In pool A the leader Stars FC made impressive twists and turns in the process winning 5-2 against Congo to guard jealously their position at the top of the log.
In their last game they collected three more points against Khami whom they mercilessly clobbered 10-0 to make sure that they stand six points above second-placed Mthala.
On the other hand, Mthala won 3-2 against Tigers only to painfully stare as their next set of three points slipped away when drawing 0-0 against Bullets away from home.
This morning they have a tricky assignment against 70 Combination who walked away with the bragging right during the first half of the year.
According to an official from Umthala, their eyes are now on 70 Combination whom they beat last time hence they will be all out for vengeance this time around.
“Anything is possible during this last half of the season if we can continue accumulating points, starting with our tricky encounter against a stubborn 70 Combination we stand a better chance of pushing them all the way.”
Another match that produced an interesting result was the high scoring contest featuring Nkulumane against Gwabalanda which saw the latter receive a 9-1 thrashing.
In pool B only one point separates the log leaders Mayihlome from their nearest rivals Skippers who seem to be breathing down heavily on their neck with each passing day.
The bottom-placed teams are 94 Strivers from pool A who sit at the bottom of the log after accumulating 12 points from 27 games.
In pool B Pelandaba have the burden of carrying the whole group on their shoulders after accumulating 10 points from a similar number of games to date.
This morning the league takes one more step towards its finality though there are still a lot of points to play for looking at the games remaining for all teams.
The intriguing question to ask is, for how long will the log leaders from two groups remain at the apex?
Fixtures
Pool A:
Man United v Zulu chiefs (EMakhandeni), Brotherhood v Makwee (Desert NJube), Santos Thand’abantu v FC pirates (Silwane Pumula), Khami v Fireworks(Postponed), Tigers v Edgars (Mazai Makokoba), Mthala v 70 Combination (Bango), Old Timers v Stars FC (Pumula North), Old Timers v Stars FC (Pumula North, silwane), Mganwini Legends v Creamtata (Food 4 Less Mganwini), 94 Strivers v Congo Chiefs (TM Cowdray), Cowdray Masters v Patapata (TM Cowdray), Fund’ukulinda v Iminyela Timers (Tshabalala Ext),Ndola Stars v Glenkara (Iminyela Number One), Magwegwe Bullets v Vule Vale (Magwegwe High).
Pool B
Robert Sinyoka v Skippers (Marorini Pumula South), Siyabangena v Pelandaba (Phekiwe Nkulumane12), Pioneer v Ntumbane Bombers (Matshobana), Zinwa v Nkulumane (Mambo Tshabalala), Mayihlome v NJC(Inyathi Mpopoma), Real Magwegwe v Matshobana (Magwegwe High), Real shwelele v Mabutweni (Inyathi Mpopoma),Lobels v Wembley(Matshobana), Happy Valley v Shwelele (Mazai Makokoba), Zonke FC v Finance (Esporweni Ntumbane), Zobha v Mganwini Celtics (Engotsheni Sizinda), West Com v Gwabalanda (Nduba Pry Pelandaba), NJube Crackers v Pumula Crackers (Desert NJube).
