adminNgqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
BULAWAYO City FC kept their dream of making it into the Premiership alive as they made sure they stay among the leading pack when they edged Bantu Rovers 1-0 in a pulsating Southern Region Division One match played at Luveve Stadium yesterday afternoon. The win enabled City to keep pace of log leaders ZPC Hwange who also beat Indlovu Iyanyathela 1-0 yesterday in Hwange. The Bulawayo City Council-owned team however leapfrogged Bulawayo Chiefs to second position. Chiefs play Amagagasi this afternoon in Victoria Falls.
The wild celebrations by Bulawayo City officials after the game were an indication of how important the win was and assistant coach, Farai Mujokoro said they can now fancy themselves winning the title after beating a “tough opponent”.
The game lived up to its billing and was entertaining as both teams showed their pedigree although it was Bulawayo City who dominated in the first half while Bantu came back an improved team in the second stanza.
City stamped their authority in the first 45 minutes as they dictated the pace of game riding roughshod over Bantu with a sleek passing game but were unlucky in front of goal.
Attacking midfielder, Xolisani “Scara” Ncube nearly opened the score sheet for City when his pile driver from just outside the box in the 18th minute was punched away by Trevor Madadi in goals for Rovers and it was the same script four minutes later when Scara took a free kick just on the edge of the arch of the penalty area his shot was blocked again.
The second half saw Bantu bringing in Annot Malaba and Bukhosi Sibanda for Thabo Lunga and Tafadzwa Ngwenya and this seemed to work in their favour as they started dominating exchanges but City quickly unsettled the home side when Trevor Ndlovu scored the only goal of the match after Bantu defenders failed to clear the ball in a scramble in the 52nd minute.
Online Reporter