Leopards and Chiefs face off

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIM Leopards will be out to extend their Southern Region Division One League unbeaten run to six games by becoming the first side to beat table toppers Bulawayo Chiefs in the 2017 season.

Leopards and Chiefs face off at Hartsfield Ground today.

Leopards, who are seventh on the league table with 14 points, are presently enjoying a purple patch and pulled a shocker last weekend by beating Casmyn 1-0 away through a Benboy Chinyanga strike.

Leopards face Chiefs, who have amassed 31 points from 11 outings and remain the only team yet to lose this season.

Xolani Nkundlande, the Leopards coach, is not reading much into Chiefs’ performance and believes his team stands a better chance of stopping Chiefs’ juggernaut.

“We’re looking forward to an interesting game and we go there with no pressure at all. I think pressure is on Chiefs, who want to maintain their unbeaten run. As for us, we just want to keep on improving with every game. We’re going to give our best fight and hope for a positive result,” said Nkundlande.

Leopards will bank on the league’s leading scorer with six goals Marvin Dube to lead their attack in search of another shock result.

Just like Chiefs, Leopards play an entertaining passing game, which makes tomorrow’s clash a potentially exciting encounter.

Chiefs will be without injured playmaker Tatenda Chikwende and veteran Mthulisi Maphosa or Makhosi Ncube will likely fill that gap.

Central midfielder Gracious Muleya, strikers Kundishora Chakanyuka and Adrian Banana are among the impact players Leopards will be banking on.

Chiefs coach, Thulani Sibanda, said they are going for maximum points.

“Coming from a rest since we were inactive last weekend, I believe the guys will give the best as they have refreshed. Every time we go into a game, we want maximum points so that we have firm control of our destiny. We want the championship and if we’re to be crowned champions, we have to beat the strong teams in the league like Leopards, who are in fine form,” said Sibanda.

Meanwhile, second-placed ZPC Hwange face a tricky encounter when they take on Bosso 90 at Luveve Stadium tomorrow.

ZPC Hwange trail Chiefs by 13 points and face a rejuvenated Bosso 90, who are fourth on the table with 16 points.

A victory for Highlanders’ development side against the electricity generators will see them leapfrogging inactive third-placed ZRP Bulawayo and dislodging ZPC Hwange.

Casmyn will be hoping to bounce back from last weekend’s loss when they play host to Talen Vision today, while Amagagasi will be seeking for their first win of the season when they play host to Chiwororo in Victoria Falls.

Fixtures

Today: Amagagasi v Chiwororo (Chinotimba), Makomo v Black Boots (Hwange), Casmyn v Talen Vision (Turk Mine)

Tomorrow: Victoria Falls Tigers v Indlovu Iyanyathela (postponed), Bosso 90 v ZPC Hwange (Luveve, 12PM), Bulawayo Chiefs v Zim Leopards (Hartsfield, 12PM)
— @ZililoR