adminRicky Zililo Sports Reporter
TSHOLOTSHO FC are tipped for a league and cup double if they overcome Hwange Juniors in the quarterfinal of the Zifa Southern Region LG Foods 16-team tournament and go on to complete a double over the coal miners.
The Zhwane boys are at the top of the Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League with 51 points, three ahead of Technosphere and Black Boots with just two rounds of matches remaining.
Tsholotsho FC’s encounter against Hwange Juniors is a dress rehearsal to their possible championship decider set for Tsholotsho Business Centre next weekend.
Lizwe Sweswe, Tsholotsho FC coach will rest his senior players for their Hwange Juniors cup game, probably studying his opponents before the crunch league encounter set for next week.
“Being a cup game I think it is only fair that we give young fringe players a chance to shine. They need game time and who knows maybe they might put top-drawer performances which will challenge me to include them in the coming league games. Besides, rotating the players takes off pressure from the guys knowing that they all stand equal chances of representing us,” Sweswe said.
Tsholotsho FC are likely to rest leading Zifa Southern Region Division One Soccer League scorer Stanley Chirambadare who has 12 goals, steady defensive midfielder Butholezwe “Ncue” Ncube, their right back McLive “Skippy” Phiri and Ocean Ncube.
Hwange Juniors travel to Tsholotsho still licking wounds from their 0-3 defeat against Technosphere in a midweek league game on Wednesday.
The winner of the Tsholotsho FC-Hwange Juniors encounter will face the team which will emerge victorious in another mouthwatering encounter set for Raylton Sports Club between Plumtree Chiefs and Trumus.
Victoria Falls based Trumus caused a major upset on Wednesday, ending Ntabazinduna FC’s slim title hopes following their 1-0 away win.
For Plumtree Chiefs, a possibility of ending the season trophyless could inspire them to give their best and bulldoze their way through up to the final.
Mpopoma’s Zifa Bulawayo Metropolitan Province Division Two Soccer League club Ajax Hotspurs are the only side from the lower tier left in the competition and they travel to Hwange for a date with ZPC Hwange. A mammoth assignment awaits the former Division One club as ZPC Hwange have gone for months without pay are hoping to bag the LG Foods tournament and get incentives for their sweat.
The team that progress to the last four will face off with the winner between Black boots and Ntabazinduna.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Black Boots v Ntabazinduna (Fairbridge), ZPC Hwange v Ajax Hotspurs (Hwange), Plumtree Chiefs v Trumus (Raylton), Tsholotsho v Hwange Juniors (Tsholotsho)
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