adminRicky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
FOCUS will be on the Bulawayo Chiefs and Bantu Rovers’ matches when the curtain comes down on the Zifa Southern Region Division One League today.
Both teams will be playing away, with Chiefs taking on Ntabazinduna while Rovers make the long trip to Victoria Falls to face third-placed Amagagasi.
Chiefs top the table with 63 points, two ahead of Rovers who are hoping that Ntabazinduna hold their opponents and they beat Amagagasi.
Chiefs need nothing but victory to clinch the Southern Region Division One League title.
A draw for the table toppers and a victory for Rovers, will see the two ending the season tied on 64 points, with the latter winning the championship on a superior goal difference.
Chiefs coach Thulani Sibanda has described today’s game as “the biggest of the season” and one they can’t afford to lose.
“This is our biggest game of the season. It’s a make or break for us and what is important is to manage our nerves and see to it that we do our best to get a win.
“It won’t be easy because Ntabazinduna have been playing well, especially at home and we therefore have to go an extra mile to ensure we get the desired result. I think this is one of the best season endings the Southern Region Division One League has had,” said Sibanda.
The Chiefs gaffer has won two Southern Region Division One League championships with Quelaton in 2011 and Bulawayo Chiefs in 2014 and is on the verge of adding another title with Chiefs.
Sibanda has done a sterling job with Chiefs, whom he found third on the table at the halfway mark, eight points behind then leaders Rovers. Chiefs will be banking on Farawu Matare, Joseph Mutambiranwa, Moses Majika, Ashton Mhlanga, Desire Nyokanhete and Gracious Muleya to wrap up the league title this afternoon.
Rovers will look to the seasoned Zephaniah Ngodzo, Lindelani Vice Ncube, national Under-20 striker Bukhosi Sibanda, Fortune Nkomazana and Jileni Nsingo to lead them to victory, which might win them the title in the event that Chiefs lose.
Rovers’ coach Johannes Ngodzo shot down his team’s possibility of winning the title, saying their focus was on ending the season strongly.
Fixtures
Today: Bosso 90 v Indlovu Iyanyathela (Luveve, 12PM), ZPC Hwange v ZRP Bulawayo (Hwange), Casmyn v Black Boots (Turk Mine), Ntabazinduna v Bulawayo Chiefs (Ntabazinduna), Amagagasi v Bantu Rovers (Victoria Falls), Makomo v ZRP Hwange (cancelled), Technosphere v Talen Vision (Hwange)
Tomorrow: Victoria Falls Tigers v Hwange Juniors (Victoria Falls)
Table
P W D L F A GD Pts
Bulawayo Chiefs 29 19 6 4 44 16 28 63
Bantu Rovers 29 19 4 6 48 14 34 61
Amagagasi 29 17 7 5 34 13 21 58
ZPC Hwange 29 15 10 4 32 14 18 55
ZRP Bulawayo 29 11 11 7 32 20 12 44
Talen Vision 29 12 5 12 31 36 -5 41
Black Boots 29 9 10 10 37 31 6 37
Indlovu Iyanyathela 29 10 7 12 25 31 -6 37
Technosphere 29 9 9 11 21 30 -9 36
Victoria Falls Tigers 29 10 5 14 25 35 -10 35
Casmyn 29 8 10 11 27 26 1 34
Bosso90 29 8 8 13 35 34 1 32
Makomo 29 7 11 11 22 26 -4 32
Ntabazinduna 29 6 13 10 17 32 -15 31
Hwange Juniors 29 4 11 13 16 35 -19 23
ZRP Hwange 29 2 3 24 11 66 -55 9
— @ZililoR.
Online Reporter