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Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
UNBEATEN Archers are four points away from claiming their first Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Darts League title and will this evening play host to How Mine.The Ernest ‘‘Maphepha’’ Sibanda led Archers outfit has gone for 29 games without losing a match and enjoy a two-point lead over second-placed Railstars who have amassed 27 points from the same number of matches.
There are five rounds of fixtures left before the season ends and should Railstars win all their remaining games, they will end the season with 32 points while Archers can win the title with just a match remaining in the event that they register victories in their next four encounters.
Railstars’ two league defeats were against Archers who are the favourites to win the championship. In tonight’s encounter, the log leaders will be without Mkhululi Dube who is attending a family funeral but Sibanda believes that they will cope without their inspirational playing captain.
“We are ready for How Mine and we respect them very much just like any other team who are in the league. However, they must come here knowing very well that Archers is the lions’ den and they must expect a tough encounter. From the start of the season, we said we want to win the championship in style without losing any match and that is exactly what we want to do.
“For our game against How Mine, we will be without our playing captain Dube who lost a relative but we welcome back Brian Ndlovu who was not part of last week’s team. We are dedicating tomorrow’s win to Dube because he will want us to do well even in his absence,” said Sibanda.
In the absence of Dube, the star-studded Archers’ hopes will be pinned on the likes of Ndlovu, Nkululeko Ncube, Tafadzwa Mtomba and Albert Tawanda.
In another match, Railstars play host to fourth-placed Unit Fairbridge at Raylton Sports Club. Patrick Zimidzi, Railstars’ vice-captain said they want to hammer all their opponents by big margins so that they maintain pressure on Archers.
“Like I said before, we will not just give up on the championship and we are going to fight to the wire. Every team that faces us must know that we mean business,” said Zimidzi.
Njanji’s match winners include captain Charles Widzisa, Kudakwashe Mutendi, Ndabezinhle Ngwenya, George Nyathi and McLean Chirwa.
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