Bruce Chikuni
AGENTS slipped to a first loss of the season at the hands of spirited Mupanda in a Harare Super League fixture over the weekend.
Many were expecting Agents to finally lose, at some point in this campaign, but few could have picked the resurgent Mupanda as the team to drown high-flying leaders.
Mupanda, one of the longest surviving members of the capital’s social football scene, have been a model club in the Super League.
They have refused the temptation to beef up their players’ ranks with players from Division One and instead stuck to their old members.
Many of them, like the ageless Oscar Hunda, feel the real initiative behind the league is to maintain a certain level of physical fitness.
Their policy is now being rewarded with some exceptional results, including becoming the first team to beat the Agents.
The Agents had avoided defeat in 19 assignments in which they registered 15 wins and four draws.
In the explosive derby, Jameson Boys claimed the bragging rights of Alex Sports Club as they powered to an impressive 3-1 win over Diaspora FC.
Jameson lost several key players to Diaspora during the mid-season break but were the better side on Saturday as they deservedly won this battle.
Despite all the pre-match hype, it was played in a friendly atmosphere and the two sides even shared drinks after the game.
The victory saw Jameson Boys reducing the deficit as they are now trailing leaders, Agency by just eight points.
Royal FC were the biggest winners of the weekend as they hammered Empire Gym 4-0.
Americans proved to be strong for Tachay FC as they recorded a 2-0 win in their bid to keep pace in the league marathon.
They are sitting third and are tied with Jameson Boys on 41 points.
Position and Stadic FC went home with a point apiece in a four-goal thriller.
There was also nothing to separate K9 FC and Europa FC as they settled for a 1-1 draw.