Surprise packets Vumbachikwe failed to keep up with early pacesetters Tripple B when they fell 1–2 to New Zimsteel in a Zifa Central Soccer league encounter.
The result saw the gold miners surrendering second spot to Beitbridge-based FC Strikers who overcame Town United 2-0 in a local derby at Dulibadzimu Stadium a result which saw them move to within six points of neighbours Tripple B.
Christopher Ndiweni, the Vumbachikwe coach, blamed the loss on the absence of the team’s key players — the club’s top goalscorer, Admire Hofisi and former Masvingo United midfielder Charles Maguraushe, who was out due to suspension.
Log leaders Tripple B bounced back to winning ways after a shock 2–3 loss to MSU last week, when they edged visiting Jessie Mine 1-0 while new Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino got off to a flying start after humiliating young moneybags FC Platinum Under-19 through goals from Philip Marufu, Tineyi Munyeneyi and former Lengthens striker Victor Bangira. The result saw the airmen moving one step up the ladder to third position with 26 points and Nyikadzino, who said he was “happy to be back home”, said the victory was a launch pad to Waru Waru’s championship campaign.
