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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Premiership sides Hwange and Tsholotsho continued to rule the roost in the Southern Region Division One League by registering important wins in their battle for the championship.
The coalminers gave new boys Toronto, who are yet to win a game this season, a 4-0 bashing at the Colliery Stadium to take their points tally to 31 off 14 games.
Nokel Security Southern Region Division One June Top Goal Scorer of the Month Gilbert Zulu returned from suspension and registered his name on the score card for Hwange.
The other goals came veteran defensive midfielder Andrew Chuma, forward Courage Sibanda and ex-Chicken Inn midfielder Canaan Nkomo, who seems to be enjoying a new lease of life in Hwange.
Hwange enjoy a four-point lead over Tsholotsho, who beat Mosi Rovers 2-0 in Victoria Falls through goals from striker Stanley Ngala and midfielder Michael Bhebhe, who is on loan from Chicken Inn.
Despite seeing his charges thrashing Toronto, Hwange coach Nation Dube still wants his players to be “ruthless”.
“We dominated the game against Toronto, but missed a lot of chances and I want my boys to be more ruthless. Otherwise I’m content with how our season is progressing,” Dube said.
Tsholotsho coach Joseph Sibindi heaped praise on his players.
“I’ve been surprised by the performance of the team because we never thought that we would be challenging for the championship this season after losing almost the entire squad at the beginning of the year.
“Our idea was to build a side that will compete for the title nest season, but it looks like we are effectively competing.
“I believe we’ve had an impressive season. We hope to be very competitive in the second half of the season,” Sibindi said.
While Hwange and Tsholotsho collected maximum points, pre-season title favourites Makomo lost 1-3 to army side Indlovu Iyanyathela, while ZPC Hwange were beaten 2-0 by Talen Vision.
Results
Saturday: Hwange 4-0 Toronto, Moto Moto 1-1 NRZ Leopards, Talen Vision 2-0 ZPC Hwange, Main Line 1-2 CIWU, Indlovu Iyanyathela 3-1 Makomo, Bosso 90 0-1 ZRP Bulawayo Province, Casmyn 2-1 Zim Leopards
Sunday: Mosi Rovers 0-2 Tsholotsho
Table
P W D L F A GD Pts
Hwange 14 9 4 1 25 7 19 31
Tsholotsho 14 7 6 1 14 6 8 27
ZPC Hwange 14 6 6 2 11 6 5 24
I/Iyanyathela 14 5 6 3 17 13 4 21
Makomo 14 5 6 3 16 13 3 21
CIWU 14 4 8 2 11 10 1 20
Bosso 90 14 5 5 4 12 11 1 20
Mosi Rovers 14 6 1 7 16 16 0 19
*Talen Vision 13 4 6 3 17 11 6 18
Moto Moto 14 4 6 4 11 11 0 18
Zim Leopards 14 4 4 6 13 19 -6 16
Casmyn 14 4 4 6 8 15 -7 16
Main Line 14 3 3 8 10 16 -6 12
NRZ Leopards 14 2 5 7 7 15 -8 11
Toronto 14 0 9 5 6 17 -11 9
*ZRP Bulawayo 13 2 3 8 7 19 -12 9
*Match abandoned
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