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DUE to the weekend’s Zifa Southern Region LG Foods 16-team soccer tournament quarter-finals, Division One Soccer League clubs will this afternoon be involved in midweek encounters.
With the season approaching its end, it remains to be seen whether there will be twists and turns that have been the order of the league throughout the year.
With Black Boots’ away game to Mpumalanga postponed because of “official duty at Friday’s graduation at the National University of Science and Technology”, Tsholotsho FC will dislodge the former from the summit.
“Only two Week 24 matches — Mpumalanga vs Black Boots and the ZPC Hwange vs Old Nic Mine have been postponed because of satisfactory excuses we got from their clubs. Black Boots, some of their players and officials will be on duty at the graduation ceremony at Nust while Old Nic Mine’s players work in the mine and will only be available at weekends. We’ll re-fixture their games,” said Jabulani Chinyangarara, Zifa Southern region board member responsible for fixtures.
Tied on 48 points with Black Boots who have played a game more than them, Tsholotsho FC, who were scheduled to play defunct Portland Cement, will receive maximum points on a 3-0 scoreline, taking their points tally to 51 — three more than second placed Black Boots.
Smarting from an energy sapping 0-1 away defeat to Tsholotsho FC, Technosphere will be hoping to keep their championship hopes alive by beating their town rivals. Technosphere are third on the table with 45 points after 23 matches, three points behind the joint table toppers.
“We’re not throwing in the towel as yet and we’re going to fight to the last whistle. There might be twists and turns on positions and as such, we’ve to concentrate on winning our games,” said Technosphere’s coach Try Ncube.
Being a derby, Technosphere should expect a tough game from mid-table placed Hwange Juniors.
Another interesting game is on the cards at Ntabazinduna Prison where Ntabazinduna, who have an outside chance of lifting the title, will be home to Victoria Falls’ Trumus.
The correctional services’ Agent “Ajila” Sawu stunned Plumtree Chiefs last weekend, beating the former champions 1-0 and in the process ending their dream of being championship dark horses.
Fixtures
Today: Tsholotsho v Portland Cement (cancelled), Hwange Juniors v Technoshere (Hwange), Mpumalanga v Black Boots (postponed), New West v Elephant FC (Nust), ZPC Hwange v Old Nic Mine (postponed), Plumtree Chiefs v Quelaton (Raylton), Ntabazinduna v Trumus (Ntabazinduna)
Remaining Top 5 Zifa Southern Division One Soccer League Fixtures
Week 25: Tsholotsho FC v Hwange Juniors, New West v Technosphere, Black Boots v ZPC Hwange (game already played Black Boots won 1-0), Elephants v Plumtree Chiefs, Old Nic Mine v Ntabazinduna
Week 26: Mpumalanga v Tsholotsho FC, Technosphere v Plumtree Chiefs, Ntabazinduna v Black Boots
derick.khumalo