By MICHAEL MIYOBA
AFTER three seasons of playing in the National Division One league, “Mighty” Mufulira Wanderers have bounced back to the elite league of Zambian football, the FAZ Super League after outclassing Konkola Blades in the final fixture of the season played yesterday at Shinde Stadium in Mufulira.
“Mighty” were relegated during the 2019/2020 season after the Covid-19 pandemic forced the season to prematurely end at week 27.
The legendary club which has won the Zambian championship nine times, thumped Blades 2-1 thanks to goals from Evans Chisenga and Clive Biyeta to finish the National Division one league on fourth position with 57 points, three points ahead of fifth-placed City of Lusaka.
Chisenga broke the deadlock for “Mighty” just four minutes after kick off while Biyeta cemented their return to the Super League by doubling the advantage with a strike from a penalty won two minutes before the break.
Blades got the consolation goal in the second minute of injury time but it was not enough to stop the nine-time Zambian champions from winning promotion.
“Mighty” joins champions Trident FC, Konkola Blades and Mutondo Stars who also secured promotion on the final day after humiliating Young Buffaloes 4-0 in the final match.
Trident, who were humiliated 3-1 on the final day were crowned champions after winning the national division one league with 62 points collected from 18 wins, eight draws and eight defeats.
Meanwhile, City of Lusaka missed out on promotion after a 1-0 defeat to Kafue Celtics in their final fixture played at Independence Stadium in Lusaka.
An 87th minute strike from Emmanuel Mwanza crushed Yamoto’s hopes of playing Super League football next season.
In the relegation dogfight, Livingstone Pirates returned to playing provincial league football after losing their must-win final league fixture 2-1 to Kitwe United to join relegated Barts FC and Lusaka Dynamos.
Aguilar Stars seem to have secured survival after their crucial 1-0 win over Mpulungu Harbour thanks to Lawrence Lubinda’s first half strike in their last match of the season.
In the other Week-34 National Division one results recorded yesterday, Atletico Lusaka survived after beating Kafue Eagles 1-0 thanks to Charles Mumba’s goal from a penalty while relegated Barts FC collected a 3-0 walkover win over Lusaka Dynamos.
Indeni finished the season on a positive note after overcoming Zesco Malaiti 2-0 thanks to second half goals from Simon Mwenya and Clement Tembo.
