Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
HWANGE continued with their good run in the Zifa Southern Region League, beating returnees Zimbabwe Saints 2-0 at Luveve Stadium on Sunday.
The coalminers, favourites at the beginning of the season alongside Nkayi United, Talen Vision and Casmyn, are yet to lose in seven matches.
The games have yielded 17 points, after five wins and two draws, and they have scored the most goals (15).
The defence has not been a letdown, leaking just two goals as Njabulo Dube seeks to break the jinx that saw Premiership promotion elude him a number of times while with Hwange’s neighbours and bitter rivals, Megawatt, former ZPC (Hwange).
Bulawayo’s closest rival in the race so far, Bulawayo Warriors, showed no mercy to new boys Aqua, who bought the Mainline franchise.
They drubbed the boys 4-0 to demonstrate the seriousness of their ambitions to play in the Premier Soccer League.
Warriors are on 14 points, the same number of points.
Talen Vision gained a useful away point at Victoria Falls Herentals on Saturday to stay third with 13 points, two ahead of fourth on the table Jordan of Filabusi.
Jordan held ambitious Nkayi United to a 1-1 draw.
Blackrock of Hwange, who had a fairytale start to the season last year, find themselves fifth with 11, tied with neighbours Megawatt, Nkayi United and Casmyn.
Goal difference separates them in that order in a season that promises a lot in the next dozen games, in which the relegation candidates will be shaping up, as well as Hwange’s title hopes dashed or continuing on track.
Philani Ncube can take solace in that his Zimbabwe Saints, who started late, are 10th with two wins, two draws and three losses, but are showing signs of work in progress with a number of veterans like Eddie Nkulungo as key figures.
Promises of funding for the project should give Ncube a good transfer window in July to bolster Saints, who want to cement their position this year before going for the title in 2027.
Bosso 90 have started the 2026 campaign the way they ended.
They came close to relegation last year, surviving on the last day of competition.
In this year’s Pacific Breeze-sponsored race, they find themselves at the bottom with just three points from seven games.
Army side Imbizo, with five points and Aqua, with the same, are clinging on to the other bottom three slots.
Results at a glance
Aqua Stars 1-1 Bulawayo Warriors, Megawatt 2-1 Blackrock, VF Herentals 1-1 Talen Vision, Jordan 1-1 Nkayi United, Njube Spurs 1-1 Bulawayo City, Khami United 1-2 Zebra Revolution, Imbizo w/o Bosso 90, Mosi Rovers 0-1 Casmyn, Zimbabwe Saints 0-2 Hwange
Log
PWDLFAGDPts
Hwange 7 5 2 0 15 2 13 17
Byo Warriors 7 4 2 1 16 6 10 14
Talen Vision 7 3 4 0 9 5 4 13
Jordan 7 3 4 0 9 5 4 13
Blackroack 7 3 2 2 9 6 3 11
Megawatt 7 3 2 2 6 4 2 11
Nkayi United 7 2 5 0 7 5 2 11
Casmyn 7 3 2 2 3 6 -3 11
Bulawayo City 7 2 3 2 7 7 0 9
Zim Saints 7 2 2 3 5 5 0 8
Khami United 7 2 2 3 6 9 -3 8
Mosi Rovers 7 2 2 3 6 9 -3 8
Zebra Rev 7 2 1 4 5 6 -1 7
VF Herentals 7 1 4 2 7 10 -3 7
Njube Spurs 7 1 3 3 4 8 -4 5
Aqua Stars 7 1 2 4 2 9 -7 5
Imbizo 7 1 2 4 2 14 -12 5
Bosso 90 7 1 0 6 7 11 -4 3
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi