Bantu Rovers braces for tough encounter

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
A FLAWLESS Southern Region Soccer League season is on the cards when matches resume on Saturday, with Zifa Southern Region chairman Musa Mandaza saying no team will get a weekend bye.

The first half of the season had messy fixtures, with some teams going for two weeks without kicking a ball.

Following their mid-year general meeting last Saturday, Mandaza said they were ready to roll.

“Everything is in order and this time we’re going to have a smooth programme. Some of the problems from the first half emanated from teams withdrawing at the beginning of the year when the fixtures had already been done. Remember Chiefs were involved in an accident and had about six weeks off, but now we’re expecting a flawless run,” said Mandaza.

The league games restart with leaders Bantu Rovers taking on 11th-placed Casmyn at Luveve Stadium and coach Johannes Ngodzo is expecting a tough encounter.

The former national team midfielder said: “The second half will be tricky, but we will take each game as it comes. We’ve to show mental strength because being at the top makes you everyone’s target.”

Rovers are on 37 points after 15 matches, four points above second-placed Amagagasi, who resume the second half of the season with a home tie against Black Boots.

Third-placed Bulawayo Chiefs, who are expected to announce their coach today, are on the road to Hwange for a date against Hwange Juniors.

Chiefs played their last match of the first half of the campaign against ZRP Hwange in the coalmining town and beat the law enforcers 3-0 without a coach after Anzilom Ndlovu and his technical team were fired on the eve of that game.

Their former coach Thulani Sibanda, who had left of take up the assistant’s role at Chicken Inn, is tipped to rejoin the club after he reportedly quit the Gamecocks.

“There are a few things that we’re working on before we announce the coach. I know it has taken long from an outsider’s view, but I really needed time to make sure that I don’t regret the decision I make. Like I said to you, the coach will be someone who understands our goal, which is to develop talent as well as effectively compete for honours,” said Lovemore Sibanda, the Chiefs’ director.

Fixtures

Saturday, August 20: Bosso 90 v Technosphere (White City), Victoria Falls Tigers v Ntabazinduna (Victoria Falls), ZRP Hwange v ZRP Bulawayo (Hwange), Bantu Rovers v Casmyn (Luveve), Makomo v ZPC Hwange (Hwange), Indlovu Iyanyathela v Talen Vision (Brad Barracks), Hwange Under-20 v Bulawayo Chiefs (Hwange)

Sunday, August 21: Amagagasi v Black Boots (Victoria Falls)

Table

P W D L F A GD Pts

Bantu Rovers 15 12 1 2 26 3 23 37

Amagagasi 15 10 3 2 22 7 15 33

Bulawayo Chiefs 15 9 4 2 22 7 15 31

ZPC Hwange 15 8 6 1 15 6 9 30

Technosphere 15 6 5 4 10 11 -1 23

Black Boots 15 6 4 5 19 13 6 22

Victoria Falls Tigers 15 6 3 6 15 15 0 21

ZRP Bulawayo 15 5 4 6 13 13 0 19

Bosso90 15 4 4 7 16 20 -4 16