adminTobias Mandoreba in Hwange and Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Bulawayo
THE Hwange club executive has ordered the technical bench to pick up at least seven points from the next three games in order for the team to be in the safe zone in the Castle Lager Premier league race which is now entering the do or die stages. That order has set the stage for a bruising encounter with an equally under pressure Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow.
While Hwange will go to the City of Kings with their daggers sharpened, it looks set to be an encounter made in hell as Bosso is another team which is hard pressed for a win having gone for four games without a victory.
Put simply, it is a matter of life and death for Hwange coaches Nation Dube and Brian Njovu and complicating matters a bit is the next daunting fixtures where they travel to the capital to meet tricky Monomotapa before engaging in another bruising battle against fellow miners, FC Platinum at home.
In an interview, Hwange Football Club chairman Joseph Hove did not mince his words as he declared that the time has come for the team to rise from the lower rungs of the table to safety.
“We are in a very bad position on the log at the moment and what we want from the next three games are pleasing results and nothing else.
Since this is football where you play against another set of eleven players, we decided against setting a nine points target but what we demand is at least seven points from the three games starting with tomorrow’s match against Highlanders at Barbourfields. May I stress that nothing else is acceptable to us as a committee.” he said.
Hove went on to add that he is confident that Hwange has the potential and in the right shape to win all the three games.
The team’s head coach Nation Dube could however not be drawn to comment on the three game ultimatum and instead declared that his boys were rearing to go for tomorrow’s match.
“I am not aware of the issue of the three game ultimatum maybe it will be communicated to us. As a team we always go into every match to get maximum points and we have made the necessary preparations to win in Bulawayo on Sunday.
I am very much aware that the team’s position on the log is not pleasing, but we don’t want to put the boys under a lot of unnecessary pressure as we are ready to fight till the last drop of our blood to ensure we start to rise on the log. On injuries, defender David Boriwondo is expected to pass a late fitness test as we hope to have stability at the back. We also have a few players with knocks but they are not serious hence I expect to take a strong squad to Bulawayo which will include left back Munyaradze Mungadze who is back from suspension.” he said.
Dube is hoping that roving midfielder Isaac Masame, fast improving youngsters Tafara Chese and Phakamani Dube, strikers Evans Rusike and Gilbert Zulu will be at their best as the coalminers seeks to calm the nerves of the restless fans.
Of late Hwange’s letdown has been lack of sharpness in front of goal and the sooner strikers Rusike and Zulu start banging the goals, the better for one of the country’s oldest top flight teams.
Hwange are perched dangerously on 13th position with 18 points from 17 matches.
They face a Highlanders side that is likely to be crippled and missing as much as seven players for various reasons.
Bosso have not won at Barbourfields Stadium in their last three outings although last week’s performance against Chicken Inn was a far better showing which gave hope to fans that perhaps breaking of the jinx was nearby.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu has already said it will be a difficult situation for him to lead a team with so many players absent.
The Gamecocks themselves are away in Harare where they will take on police side Black Mambas without their dribbling wizard Kudakwashe Mahachi as well as Felix Chindungwe and hitman Tendai Ndoro. Mahachi is suspended while the duo of Ndoro and Chindungwe are playing in the Cosafa Cup final against Zambia this afternoon.
The three have been a vital cog in Mandla Mpofu’s dressing room.
How Mine, 10 points behind log leaders Harare City, are at Luveve Stadium this afternoon against Shabanie Mine under Luke Masomere.
An exciting brand of football is without doubt on the cards, more so with Masomere on record saying that he needs to reach at least 34 points to survive relegation while Mabhena said at the beginning of the season that he need a minimum of 35 points to get an assurance of dancing with the elite next year.
Log standing:
P W D L F A GD PTS
Harare City 17 10 4 3 26 14 12 34
Dynamos 17 8 7 2 24 10 14 31
Highlanders 17 9 4 4 27 15 12 31
Chicken Inn 17 9 4 4 23 17 6 31
FC Platinum 17 8 5 4 21 14 7 29
CAPS United 17 8 4 5 22 16 6 28
How Mine 17 7 3 7 18 21 -3 24
Triangle FC 17 6 4 7 18 19 -1 22
Buffaloes 17 7 1 9 28 30 -2 22
Monomotapa 17 6 4 7 20 25 -5 22
Shabanie 17 6 3 8 17 23 -6 21
Mambas 17 6 1 10 15 23 -8 19
Hwange 17 4 6 7 16 19 -3 18
B Rhinos 17 4 5 8 18 26 -8 17
Tripple B 17 4 3 10 17 27 -10 15
Motor Action 17 3 4 10 13 24 -11 13
Premiership scoring chart ahead of Week 18.
Eleven: Tendai Ndoro (Chicken Inn)
Eight: Aleck Marima (Tripple B), Osborne Mukuradare (Harare City), Jacob MUZOKOMBA (Buffaloes)
Seven: Washington PAKAMISA (Dynamos), Steven SIbanda (Buffaloes), Nelson Mazivisa (Fc Platinum)
Six: Ishmael Lawe (Monomutapa), Dominic Chungwa (Caps united), Simba Sithole (How Mine).
Five: Alifandika Nicholas(Black Mambas), Limited Chikafa (Triangle),William Munondo(Harare City), Milton Ncube (Highlanders), Ncube Njabulo (Highlanders)
Four:Farai Banda (Buffaloes), Fungai Chiranda (Shabanie Mine), Leonard Fiyado (Caps United), Patrick Kumbula (DYNAMOS), Mthulisi Maphosa (Highlanders), Misheck Mburayi (Motor Action), Graham Ncube (Highlanders), Ali Sadiki (Fc Platinum), Charles Sibanda (Fc Platinum), Zulu Gilbert (Hwange)
Three: Brighton Chandisaita (black rhinos) ,Bevan Chikaka ( Highlanders), Lot Chiunga (Black Rhinos), Admire Dzumbunu (Buffaloes), Clive Kawinga (Dynamos), Caleb Masocha (Shabanie), Mernard MUPERA (How Mine) Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps united), Kuda Masharu (monoz), Tawanda Muparati (DYNAMOS) Gerald Ndlovu (Hwange) Lameck Nhamo (Triangle) Trymore Nyamadzawo (Harare City), Tawanda Nyamandwe (Caps United), Martin Vengesai (Harare City), Pervington Zimunya (Shabanie)
Two: Last Chibwiro (Black Mambas), Honey Chimutimunzeve (Black Mambas) ,Ronald Chityo (Monoz), Webster Chingodza (Tripple B) ,Chrispen Dckson ( Harare City), Yves Ebabali (Motor Action), William Gondo (Triangle), James Jam (Harare City),Timothy January (How mine), Partson Jaure (DYNAMOS), Cabby Kamhapa (chicken Inn), Munyaradzi Kunyarimwe (Shabanie), Marshall Marima (Chicken Inn) farai Masusunye (Shabanie) Hillary Mugoniwa (Monomutapa) kuda Mahachi (Chicken Inn) Timire Mamvura (Tripple ) Tawanda Mareya (Buffaloes) Simon Mayengeni (Tripple B) Nqobile Mpala (How Mine) moses Muchenje (Caps United) Agrippa Murimba (Monoz) kudakwashe Musharu (Monomutapa) Jacob Muzokomba(buffaloe) Simon Njeleza (how mine) Merciful Ncube (Motor Action) Innocent Nyoni (black mambas) Tonisani Sabelo (Chicken Inn) David Sengu (Triangle) wonder Sithole (buffaloes) Nkosana Siwela (Hwange) Bizerk Zvikomborero (Monomutapa)
One: Craven Banda (Hwange) Phineas Bhamusi (Harare City) Clive Boroma (Monoz) David Boriwondo (hwange) Devon Chafa (Dynamos) Tafara Chese (Hwange) Edmore Chafunamoyo (Triple B) Wilson Chakanyuka (Black Rhinos) Kasimero Chidzambwa (Black Mambas) Benjamin ChirimanziI (Black Mambas) Dylan Chivandire (motor action) Courage Denials (triangle) Herbert Dick(How Mine) Cleophas Dube (Highlanders) Mkhokeli Dube (Chicken Inn) Phakamani Dube (Hwange) Givemore Fireyi (Triple Allen Gahadzikwa (FC Platinum) Edward Halungu (Hwange) Daniel Kamhunhenga (triangle) Bruce Kangwa (Highlanders) Wonder Kapinda (Black Rhinos) Mitchell Katsvairo (Fc Platinum)R ichard KAawondera (Triangle) Trust Machacha (Black Rhinos) Russell Madamombe (Dynamos) Paida Madziro (Mambas) Michael Mageja(Buffaloes) AmanMakiwa (Triple b ) James MAKOMBWE (Black Rhinos) Masimba Mambare (Highlanders) william Mapfumo (Triangle) Clement Matawu (Motor Action) Lewis Matawu (Motor Action) Augustine MBARA (Dynamos) nelson Melson (Monomutapa) Brain Mbiriri (Chicken Inn) Manuel Meleka (Motor Action) winston Mhango (Fc Platinum) tafadzwa Mombeshora (Shabanie) peter Moyo (Highlanders) jackson Moses (Chicken Inn)
Pritchard Mpelele (Hwange),Ocean Mpofu (How Mine),Brighton Mugoni (Black Rhinos),Farai Mupasiri(Dynamos),Jameson Mukombwe (Black Rhinos),Joseph Mutambiranwa (Caps United),Simon Munawa (Highlanders),Tawanda Muyendi (Triangle),Brian Muzondiwa (Black Rhinos),Joel Ngodzo (FC Platinum),Shepherd Nkhata (Buffaloes),Josphat Phiri (How Mine),Ronald Pfumbidzai (Caps United) David Rhedhiyoni (Caps United),Tarisai Rukanda (Shabanie),Charles Rukwani(Monomutapa) Daniel Vheremu(FC Platinum),Tendai Samanja (Caps United),Cliff Sekete( Dynamos)
Valentine Sibanda (Shabanie),Silas Songani (Harare City),Tshepo Ranthohoane (Black Mambas)
Edward Tembo (motor action),Trust Torovashe(black rhinos),Andrew Chuma(Hwange), Nthan Ziwini (Harare City).
Suspended players: Steven Alimenda (Dynamos)
Kudakwashe Mahachi (Chicken Inn), Aleck Marime (Tripple B), Timire Mamvura (Tripple B), Tafadzwa Mombeshora (Shabanie Mine), Philip Chandisaita (Bufaloes), Themba Ndlovu (Buffaloes), Mernard Mupera (How Mine) ,Courage Denias (Triangle)
Fixtures:
Today: How Mine v Shabanie Mine (Luveve),
Black Mambas v Chicken Inn (Morris Depot),
Harare City v FC Platinum (Rufaro), Motor Action v
Tripple B (Motor Action Sports Club)
Tomorrow: Buffaloes v Triangle (Sakubva), Black
Rhinos v Dynamos (Rimuka), Highlanders v
Hwange (BF), CAPS United v Monomotapa (NSS).
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