BULAWAYO Chiefs are back in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) after lifting the Zifa Southern Region Soccer League (SRSL) following a 2-1 win over Bosso 90 at the Chiefs Village on Saturday.
Anesu Saiti scored his 12th goal of the season as he leads the pack for the top goal scorer award.
Lewis Milanzi scored the winner as The Ninjas await PSL confirmation for their ascension to the country’s top league.
They clinched the title with an unassailable 73 points with two games remaining to the end of the season.
Club chief executive officer Thulani “Javas” Sibanda said they have learnt a lot of lessons in Division One than they did when they were in the Premier League and they will “never be demoted” from the elite league again.
“We are Bulawayo Chiefs and Bulawayo Chiefs will continue being Bulawayo Chiefs regardless of who’s here and who’s not there,” Sibanda said.
“But so far, for now, we’re just concentrating on enjoying this victory and we’re going to do that for a while and then what happens tomorrow we’ll then talk about it tomorrow.”
He added: “I think the lessons that we have learnt in Division One are more than the lessons we learnt during our stay in the Premier League.
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“But then those lessons will ensure that we are not coming back here again because it’s been full of lessons and we’re going to take those lessons into the Premier League.
“When we get to the Premier League, we are not going there to come back here. We are going up there to stay up there because we learned lessons. We are going to slay those giants if ever there are any giants in the Premier League.”
Coach John Nyikadzino, who landed his fourth Division One title, was ecstatic.
“It’s the greatest feeling. I am very excited. I am happy for the boys. I am happy for The Ninjas family,” he said.
“What is left now is for the management to guide us on the way forward. I am happy we have managed to clinch the championship in the Southern Region.
“Hwange gave us a good run but like I have always said in the past; boys will be separated from men.”
In the past, Nyikadzino has managed to get WhaWha, Chapungu and Nichrut elevated.
Last week, FC Hunters won the Eastern Region Soccer League title after beating Tenax 2-1 at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera.
They will become the first team from Marondera to play in the PSL if they get confirmation.
