The Sunday News
Mandla Moyo, Sports Reporter
THE Bulawayo Social Soccer League (BSSL) is never short of drama.
New Zealand Scholar Steven Jackson writing in 2013 notes that sport, football included, represents human drama at its finest, providing a stimulus as well as an acceptable arena for the expression of the full range of human emotions. For that reason it attracts large, passionately devoted audiences.
Writing in the leagues’ weekly bulletin, a social media platform, “Dr Kamuzu Banda” the leagues’ rabble-rouser wrote that once upon a time two sworn enemies both of the league Congo Chiefs as well as Mthala both from Mpopoma once squared off at Barbourfields Stadium under flood lights. This was after a heated discussion about who the real king of Mpopoma was when it comes to playing the world’s most beautiful game.
According to Banda, from the onset Congo Chiefs meant business pushing Mthala to the wall.
“Congo Chiefs meant business from the start, while Mthala looked out of sorts backed by their multitude of fans chanting their teams’ slogans vociferously. One could mistake the game for a champions league match, the second half saw Congo Chiefs return firing from all cylinders still a goal up which was scored during the first half.
“Pressure started mounting on Mthala, led Chris Mhlanga who was to pull the greatest mischief ever recorded in football history when he tripped the main switch, bringing the stadium into total darkness. For that reason the man in the middle had no option but to bring the game to an end while Mthala was still trailing,” wrote Banda.
When asked what was the reason for tripping the switch Mhlanga, the founding president of the league said after assessing the situation he saw it best to act as he did.
After a hearing the league decided that the game ended as a draw to cool down the tempers among the fans of both teams. According to Banda the Inyathi, Bango battles were like the old Highlanders against Zimbabwe Saints games played at a very emotional atmosphere.
Bulawayo Social Soccer League match day 40 fixtures
Pool A: Funda v Zulu Chiefs(Tshabalala Ext), 70 Comb v Legends(Mambo, Tshabalala), Bullets v Iminyela(Magwegwe High), Stars v Pirates(Iminyela One), Makwee v Old Timers(Mazai Makokoba), Ndola v Patapata(Iminyela one), B/Hood v Glenkara(Desert Njube), Edgars v C/Masters(Somhlolo, Nkulumane) , CreamTata v Santos(Lob Youth Centre), Khami v Mthala(Khami, Prison),Congo v Vule Vale(Mpopoma, Inyathi), Strivers v Tigers(TM Cowdray Park), Fireworks v Man Utd( Luveve, High).
Pool B: P/Crackers v Celtics(Silwane, Pumula), Skippers v Siyabangena(Bango, Mpopoma), Matshobana v Pioneer Matshobana), Mayihlome v Sinyoka(Inyathi, Mpopoma) , Zonke v R/Mag(Esiporweni, Entumbane), Finance v Bombers(TM Cowdray Park), Nkulumane v Pelandaba(Phekiwe, Nkulumane),West Com v Lobels (Induba Pry Sch), Zobha v Shwelele(Engotsheni, Sizinda), Wembley v R/Shwelele(Lob High), Zimra v Njube(Mambo, Tshabalala), Mabutweni v Valley(Insukamini Pry), New jack City v Gwabalanda(Mazai, Makokoba).
