Lunga leads Bosso 90 against Bantu Rovers

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
BOSSO 90’s pint-sized midfielder-cum-striker and winner of the Nokel Security Southern Region League August top goal scorer award Ray Lunga will lead his side’s quest for maximum points against his former paymasters Bantu Rovers at White City Stadium tomorrow.

Lunga (22), who has scored nine goals in 22 games, received a boost ahead of the potentially exciting encounter when Zifa Southern region declared him winner of the August award for his three goals.

Augustine Ndlovu, Zifa Southern Region administrator, said Lunga would receive his accolade at his team’s home match next week.

“Lunga will be presented with his $150 award next week for being the league’s top scorer for the month of August after scoring three goals. He beat

Bantu Rovers’ pair of Fortune Nkomazana and Joshua Wilson, Tashinga Mungadze from Black Boots, Indlovu Iyanyathela’s Obedience Siwela and Tawanda Muchaya of Talen Vision, who had two goals each,” said Ndlovu.

Although Lunga will not be presented his award in tomorrow’s derby, the diminutive forward is expected to take his recent form to the game and probably disturb Rovers’ championship charge.

Last week, Bosso 90 nearly spoiled the party for title chasing Amagagasi by holding them to a 1-1 draw.

Amagagasi had to come from behind to salvage a point against the youthful Bosso 90 side, whose players are eager to impress first team coach Erol Akbay.

Bosso 90 coach Melusi Sibanda has seen his side putting up an improved performance in the second half of the season, collecting 12 points from just seven games.

In the first half of the season, Bosso 90 amassed 16 points from 15 games. They are presently in eighth place on the league table.

“The first half of the season was a bit tricky in the sense that the boys were still adapting to the Division One league and they seem to be in the groove now.

“We’re looking forward to the Bantu Rovers game and the boys are raring to go. If you’re playing a top team, the guys tend to be excited and want to stand their ground, so I’m also looking forward to an exciting but challenging game,” said Sibanda.

Rovers lead the table with 47 points, two ahead of second-placed Amagagasi, and will be hoping to bounce back from a shock 1-2 loss to lowly placed Indlovu Iyanyathela.

Rovers will bank on the experience of the former national team duo of Gilbert Banda and Zephaniah Ngodzo, ex-Bosso junior Gladman Bharibhari, who is also the front runner for the Nokel Security September top goal scorer award, and the Young Warriors’ pair of Bukhosi Sibanda and Thabo Lunga.

Meanwhile, Amagagasi will face party spoilers ZRP Bulawayo, who upset Bulawayo Chiefs 2-1 last weekend. The Victoria Falls side cannot afford to drop points if they want to keep pressure on Rovers.

Chiefs make a road trip to Hwange for a date against Technosphere.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: ZRP Hwange v Black Boots (cancelled), Hwange Juniors v Makomo (Hwange), Talen Vision v Victoria Falls Tigers (White City, 12PM),

Casmyn v ZPC Hwange (Turk Mine), Technosphere v Bulawayo Chiefs (Hwange), Indlovu Iyanyathela v Ntabazinduna (Brad Barracks), Bantu

Rovers v Bosso 90 (White City), ZRP Bulawayo Province v Amagagasi (Fairbridge)

Table

P W D L F A GD Pts

Bantu Rovers 22 15 2 5 41 11 30 47

Amagagasi 22 13 6 3 26 9 17 45

Bulawayo Chiefs 22 13 5 4 31 13 21 44

ZPC Hwange 22 11 9 2 25 12 13 42

ZRP Bulawayo 21 8 7 6 19 15 4 31