Lovemore Dube, [email protected]
HWANGE’S inconsistency of late returned to haunt them on Sunday when they were held by visiting Nkayi United in a Pacific Breeze Zifa Southern Region League tie at the Colliery Stadium.
The last four opponents of Hwange and second placed Talen Vision will have a say in the final log position at the top.
With the race a few matches from being over, Hwange went into the weekend with three-point lead over Talen Vision.
But a poor home performance saw Hwange draw 0-0 with the Bulawayo based undertakers who also saw a dent to their campaign for third place.
Hwange went into the weekend match on 66 points against Talen Vision’s 63. But the poor showing against Nkayi left Hwange on 67 points ahead of Talen Vision and clutching on thin hairs as the race reached the penultimate mile before the Premiership ticket is decided.
For the coalminers it has been a bitter stretch in which in the last five games they have lost to Khami United and Talen Vision.
What compounds Hwange’s problems is that it is left with very difficult opponents Casmyn , Bosso90, Bulawayo Warriors and Bulawayo City.
It is these matches that are expected to define Hwange’s season and coach Njabulo Dube obviously wants to see the team promoted. Near misses is what he was accustomed to while at ZPC Hwange now Megawatt.
Talen Vision continued with their quiet fight for the title winning 2-0 over Imbizo taking their points’ tally to 66.
Their chances of promotion have a big boost in that they are guaranteed a 3-0 scoreline on a walkover decision over Mosi Rovers who withdrew from the race after facing financial challenges. All clubs that were yet to play the Victoria Falls based club were awarded walkover decisions with scorelines of 3-0.
Among the teams Talen Vision are still to play in their last four matches was Mosi, Casmyn, Bosso90 and Nkayi United and is likely to win all the matches.
Jordan are now on third place after firing seven goals past a bemused Zimbabwe Saints.
Jordan’s strategy of playing the ball up and pressing high worked as they got the goals that left them on third postion from fourth in midweek with 60 points from 30 matches. They strengthened their position to finish third with a polished display to win 7-1 after some bad defending and goalkeeping.
Results
Zebra Revolution 3-1 Njube Spurs, Talen Vision 3-0 Imbizo, Hwange 0-0 Nkayi United, Bulawayo City 1-2 Megawatt, Zimbabwe Saints 1-7 Jordan, Bulawayo Warriors w/o Vic Falls Herentals,
Blackrock cancelled Mosi Rovers, Casmyn 2-0 Bosso90, Khami United 1-1 Aqua Stars
