The “hooray” of five Warriors players in the colours of champions Kaizer Chiefs came laced with a “phew” from the three at survivors, Ajax Cape Town, the woes of those at relegated Black Leopards and the anxious moments of the one at Chippa United, who still have play-offs to try and cling on to the PSL.
Platinum Stars, Orlando Pirates, Bidvest Wits, Bloemfontein Celtic, Supersport United and the University of Pretoria were all sets that contained Zimbabwean players happy to achieve a top eight finish that will see them fight for the R8 million first prize money in the MTN8 Trophy early next season.
Topping the list of achievers after the last game of the season were Warriors strikers Mathew Rusike and Kingstone Nkhata, defenders Jimmy Jambo (although still injured) and Lincoln Zvasiya and midfield workhorse, Willard Katsande, who went to the podium for their first piece of silverware in the neighbouring country, the PSL Championship.
Kaizer Chiefs lost their last game of the season 1-0 to Pretoria University, but that was a few days after they had clinched the ABSA Premiership title following their 1-1 draw with former champions Supersport United. Already, Chiefs have won R3 million in the QInnovation, having ended the first and third quarter as the best achievers in the topflight league.
The Amakhosi could still make it a league and cup double with a Nedbank Cup final win at the weekend, should they manage to navigate their way past Supersport United, who have national team striker Simba Sithole as one of their gunmen and former Warriors defender, Kaitano Tembo as their assistant coach.
United ended the season placed sixth, so the Zimbabwean duo there are also some of the satisfied lot, as is Platinum Stars’ Obert Moyo (second), Pirates’ Takesure Chinyama (third), Wits’ Tinashe Nengomasha, Thomas Sweswe and Denver Mukamba (fourth) and Bloemfontein Celtic’s Roderick Mutuma (fifth).
University of Pretoria occupied the last top eight post, with the Zimbabwean trio of midfielder Lionnel Mtizwa, goalkeeper Washington Arubi and goalkeepers’ coach, Tendai Tanyanyiwa, occupied the last Top8 post, squeezing in past the Moroka Swallows of Oscar Machapa and Gilbert Mapemba on goal difference.
The Swallows duo won the MTN8 Trophy. Mutuma had not yet signed when Celtic won the Telkom Knockout Trophy.
Post published in: Football