Former Warriors and Highlanders’ Botswana-based coach Rahman Gumbo ends the 2010/2011 be-Mobile League on second position with his side Mochudi Centre Chiefs after a 1-1 draw with Extension Gunners last Friday.
The league was clinched by former Gumbo’s Township Rollers, which have won the league back to back after winning it last year with the former Warriors’ mentor.
Gumbo’s Centre Chiefs are second on the log, nine points behind Township Rollers’ 72 points, two games before the curtain comes down on the be-Mobile League.
Township Rollers went into celebration last Saturday after beating Nico United 3-1 and will be playing Gunners this afternoon and Black Peril on Saturday to wrap up the season.
Rollers only needed a point from the match to retain the title and pocket another P1 million after their closest challengers, Mochudi Centre Chiefs drew on Friday. Rollers have amassed an unassailable 72 points from 28 games, dropping only 14 points throughout the campaign.
Mapalastina used the Nico match to unveil a new partner in South African banking giants, Absa, even though no details were revealed about the sponsorship.
The Rollers’ celebrations were nearly spoiled as they fell to a second minute goal from Zimbabwean Tendai Ndoro. The Nico leading marksman pounced on a rebound after reigning be Mobile player of the season, Kabelo Dambe, failed to handle the ball.
Rollers’ first chance of the match fell to Mweuku Musonda in the 11th minute but he was denied by goalkeeper Kaelo Joseph. Rollers became impatient to level the score and put pressure on the Majombolo defence besides trying long-range efforts.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Last year, Gumbo won the league with Township Rollers on 30 games, winning 25, drawing three and losing two.
He also scooped the Coach of the Year Award before leaving the club allegedly after a misunderstanding with the management.
Centre Chiefs have amassed 61 points after playing 28 games, winning 18 matches, drawing four and only losing two matches.
Gumbo’s side will now be playing the last two dead-rubber matches with their next “formality assignments” against relegation-bound Black Peril on Saturday and seventh-placed Uniao Flamengo on May 21.
Extension Gunners, who played Centre Chiefs last Friday and are on eleventh position on the Botswana league, are also coached by Zimbabwean Max “Malume” Moyo.
Another Botswana side coached by a Zimbabwean, Paul Moyo, Tafic FC are on ninth position and play their last two games against Motlakase on Sunday and Ecco City Green on 21 May.
Clever Hunda, another Zimbabwean coach based in Botswana is perched on tenth position on the be-Mobile league with his side Police XI.
Police XI play their final games with Miscellaneous on Saturday and end the league on 21 May against Botswana Defence Forces.
Gumbo is the only Zimbabwean coach who has won the league title in three different countries, in Zimbabwe with Highlanders, Malawi with MTL Wanderers before the triumph in Botswana last season.
