Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
SOUTHERN Region Division One League championship dark horses Indlovu Iyanyathela will face pacesetters Hwange with a depleted attack due to the suspension of leading scorer Tafadzwa Dhliwayo.
Dhliwayo, winner of the Nokel Security July Top Goal Scorer award, has seven goals to his account and was red-carded during Indlovu Iyanyathela’s 1-0 defeat by Makomo in Hwange on Wednesday.
Despite limited resources, the army side are a surprise package in the title race, sitting fourth on the log and trailing table toppers Hwange by 10 points. Hwange are on 43 points.
Clement Chimimba, the Indlovu Iyanyathela coach, is wary of Hwange.
“We’re playing a former Premiership side with lots of experience which we respect, but we are ready for them. We lost to Makomo and now we have to pick ourselves up and fight. It won’t be easy, but we always try to do better with every game. Unfortunately, we face Hwange without one of our influential players Dhliwayo, who I think was unlucky to be shown a red card. We will have to revisit our game plan,” said Chimimba.
Indlovu Iyanyathela yesterday had a recovery session at their sister club Moto Moto’s base in Hwange, with Chimimba also helping the coal-mining town based army side with technical and tactical guidance.
“We don’t have any pressure at all other than to enjoy our football and try to solidify our place in the top four. The target is to finish in the top four and I think it is Hwange that are after the championship who are feeling pressure,” Chimimba said.
Hwange, led by veterans, striker Gilbert Zulu, defender Obert Moyo, Felix Chindungwe and Gerald Ndlovu, midfielders Andrew Chuma and Canaan Nkomo will be out to consolidate their five-point lead in the event that second-placed Tsholotsho win their match against Moto Moto.
Hwange go into tomorrow’s game bubbling with confidence following last weekend’s 4-2 win over Makomo in a coalmining derby.
A potentially explosive encounter is also on the cards at Gifford High School in Bulawayo tomorrow where Talen Vision will play host to Makomo.
The two sides drew 2-2 in the first leg. A victory for Talen Vision will see them leapfrogging Makomo, who are a place above them in sixth, just a point ahead of Vision, who are on 29 points.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: ZPC Hwange v Bosso 90 (Hwange, 12PM), Toronto v Makomo (Brad Barracks, 12PM), Casmyn v Mainline (Turk Mine), Hwange v Indlovu Iyanyathela (Hwange, 12PM), Talen Vision v ZRP Bulawayo (Gifford, 12PM)
Sunday: Tsholotsho v Moto Moto (Luveve), Mosi Rovers v NRZ Leopards (Victoria Falls), Zim Leopards v CIWU (Luveve, 12PM)
Table
P W D L F A GD Pts
Hwange 19 13 4 2 36 12 24 43
Tsholotsho 19 10 8 1 21 9 12 38
ZPC Hwange 19 9 7 3 18 9 9 34
I. Iyanyathela 19 9 6 4 28 15 13 33
Bosso 90 19 8 6 5 20 14 6 30
Makomo 19 8 6 5 24 22 2 30
Talen Vision 19 7 7 5 23 15 8 28
CIWU 19 6 8 5 20 18 2 25
Moto Moto 18 5 8 6 15 15 0 23
Mosi Rovers 19 6 2 11 20 28 -8 20
Casmyn 19 5 5 9 12 21 -9 20
Main Line 19 5 3 11 13 25 -14 18
Toronto 19 2 11 6 9 17 -8 17
Zim Leopards 19 4 5 10 14 27 -13 17
NRZ Leopards 18 3 5 10 11 23 -12 14
ZRP Bulawayo 19 3 4 12 10 24 -14 14
– @ZililoR
Online Reporter