adminRaymond Jaravaza Sports Correspondent
BANTU Rovers dismissed city rivals Talen Vision 2-0 at Raylton Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday to shoot to the top of the Southern Region Division One Soccer League table. On a day that Amagagasi, who had been topping the table, drew against Technosphere in Hwange, Rovers climbed to the top with 27 points from 10 matches.
Amagagasi are now a point behind from the same number of matches. The two teams’ players scooped the Nokel Security Top Goal Scorer award for May. Fortune Nkomazana of Rovers and Amagagasi’s Nhlanhla Ndlovu both scored five goals in May and shared the $150 prize money.
Eleven minutes into the match, Rovers’ centre-back Bongani Sikwili drew first blood against Talen Vision with a header from a well taken corner by Lenience Mpofu. Joshua Wilson made it 2-0 for Rovers in the second half by slotting home a loose ball that the Talen Vision backline had failed to decisively deal with.
Soon after, frustration got the better of Talen Vision players and defender Godwill Ndlovu was shown a red card for a second bookable offence following a crude tackle on Rovers’ captain Bukhosi Sibanda. The match was also watched by Warriors’ midfielder Marvelous Nakamba and assistant coach Mkhuphali Masuku.
Rovers’ coach Johannes Ngodzo said: “We took the match like any other game, but it’s a nice feeling to be at the top of the league table and I hope the players can continue working hard to get results.”
Teams
Talen Vision: S Musinginini, B Ndlovu, T Nyoni, B Benge, G Ndlovu, W Biri, B Thebe (Blessing Mandizvidza 87 minutes), A Nyoni, S Njeleza, N Mpofu, P Ngwenya
Bantu Rovers: S Chimusoro, C Ncube, J Nsingo, L Ncube, B Sikwili, Z Ngodzo, B Sibanda, A Ndlovu (Obery Chirinda 40 minutes), J Wilson (Sean Harrison 33 minutes), L Mpofu, F Nkomazana (Gladman Bharibari 82 minutes)
derick.khumalo