adminRicky Zililo Sports Reporter
MOUTH-WATERING encounters are on the cards in the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League with log leaders Bulawayo Chiefs playing host to Tsholotsho FC in Plumtree tomorrow. Bulawayo Chiefs who are coming from a 0-1 defeat to ZPC Hwange are enjoying a five-point lead over third placed Tsholotsho who are tied on 32 points with Blackboots who are on second position.
The league pacesetters are yet to win a match in the second half of the season having lost 0-1 to Quelaton in Week 16 and last weekend they were defeated 0-1 by ZPC Hwange.
Bulawayo Chiefs have only managed to pick nine points out of a possible 18 since parting ways with former gaffer Thulani “Thuts” Sibanda. When Sibanda was fired, he had amassed 28 points from 11 matches.
With the calibre of players at Bulawayo Chiefs, they were expected to easily cruise past their opponents under the guidance of renowned coach Rahman Gumbo who has been in charge of their last six matches.
Tsholotsho FC who are the championship’s dark horses should expect a tough encounter at Dingumuzi because Bulawayo Chiefs will be on a revenge mission after losing 0-1 in the first leg.
Lizwe Sweswe, the Tsholotsho FC coach who has managed to form a formidable squad said they were ready for the championship favourites.
He said their goal was to finish in the top four.
“We are not thinking about the championship at all but our goal is to improve from last season’s eighth place finish and probably be in the top four. I am happy with how we have played so far and the position that we are on.
“We have worked hard to be where we are and we are taking each game as it comes. We are not under any pressure at all because no one talks about us and that makes us enjoy our football.
“I think since its a top of the table clash, the game can go either way but we are preparing hard to make sure that we get maximum points. Everyone is looking forward to the game,” Sweswe said.
Tsholotsho FC will pin their hopes on skipper Nkosilathi Moyo, Ocean Ncube, attacking midfielder Chris Chitiyo, strikers Nickson Gama and Kudzi Machazane.
Bulawayo Chiefs also have experienced players who are capable of turning the tables on Tsholotsho FC. Some of the players to look out for include their captain
Lindelani “Vice” Ncube, Innocent Kutsanzira, Pride “Sjankala” Zireni, Tedious Mugumanja, George Majika and Moreblessing Nyokanhete.
They also have former Highlanders striker Cleopas “Balloteli” Dube who is enjoying a new lease of life at the club and former Quelaton defender Wilberforce Chiramba who is also good at taking long throw-ins.
In other matches, second placed Blackboots will play host to unpredictable Hwange Juniors at Unit Fairbridge while Sibanda will have his first game in charge of Bantu Rovers when they take on Ajax Hotspurs at Portuguese Sports Club tomorrow.
Zimbabwe Saints who seem to be enjoying a good spell under former Highlanders juniors and Chicken Inn coach Mark Mathe travel to Victoria Falls for a date with Mkhosana.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Quelaton v ZPC Hwange (Portuguese), Black Boots v Hwange Juniors (Fairbridge), Ntabazinduna v Mpumalanga (Ntabazinduna), Bulawayo Chiefs v
Tsholotsho (Plumtree), Bulawayo Jumbos v Technosphere (Brady Barracks), Ajax Hotspurs v Bantu Rovers (Portuguese, 12pm), Mkhosana v Zimbabwe Saints (Victoria Falls)
Online Reporter