Division 2 battle for promotion intensifies

Geophrey Sifani, Sports Reporter
THE battle for promotion in the Zifa Bulawayo Division Two League hots up this weekend with the top three teams hoping to recover from the disappointment of their previous outings.

Leaders Talen Vision were held to a goalless draw by ZRP Bulawayo Province while Highlanders Academy failed to take advantage by slumping to a disappointing 1-2 loss to Zim Leopards.

Talen Vision need eight points from their last three matches to clinch the sole ticket to Division One, meaning they have to win all of them to reach an unassailable 60 points.

They presently sit on 52 points from 27 games, while Highlanders Academy are on 50 points and ZRP Bulawayo have 47 points.

However, the pressure of winning their remaining three games could be eased for Talen Vision should the Bosso academy lose a match as it will mean they can only end on 56 points after this weekend’s fixtures.

The heat will be on Talen Vision to claim maximum points when they play ZRP Ntabazinduna tomorrow. Highlanders Academy will be away to Lobengula Stars and any slip up in this encounter will shatter the Bosso youngsters’ dream of promotion into the Southern Region League.

In other matches, ZRP Bulawayo face 10th placed Kombani. If the police team wins and Highlanders loses, the two teams will be tied on 50 points.

Tomorrow’s fixtures

Zimbabwe Saints v Toronto (B/F Outside ground 4), LG Vultures    v Chicken Inn (B/F Outside ground 2), CS Distributors v Zimplow (Sizinda), Kombani v ZRP Byo Province (Matshobane), Talen Vision v ZRP Ntabazinduna (Njube Desert), Ajax Hotspurs v Mpopoma Pirates (Bango), Lobengula Stars v Highlanders Academy (Lobengula), Zim Leopards v East Rovers (Iminyela)
 

Table

 P    W    D    L    F    A    PTS
Talen Vision         27    14    10    3    41    16    52
Highlanders        27    14    8    5    55    30    50
ZRP Byo        27    12    11    4    36    21    47
ZRP N/zinduna        27    13    6    8    36    30    45
Zim Leopards        27    11    10    6    38    27    43
LG Vultures         27    12    5    10    31    28    41
Toronto        27    11    8    8    26    27    41
Mpopoma Pirates        27    11    6    10    27    28    39
Ajax Hotspurs        26    8    11    7    29    26    35
Chicken Inn        27    11    4    12    27    27    37
Lobengula Stars        27    8    9    10    30    27    33
CS Distributors        27    8    6    13    30    39    30
Kombani         27    6    9    12    27    46    27
Zimbabwe Saints        27    6    9    12    29    38    27
Zimplow        26    6    7    13    22    42    25
East Rovers        27    3    3    21    26    58    12