What To Expect On Southern Region Division One Second Round

AFTER a three-week break, the ZIFA Southern Region Division One Soccer League is set to commence next week and players from various top teams have opened up on their expectations for the second round up to the end of the season.

With 18 matches having been played in the league, the only team that is yet to taste defeat is Arenel Movers, who are also leading the log. They have been the eye-catching side of the first round and Kudzayi Mhandire’s side will hope to maintain that form which has seen them leading second placed side ZPC Hwange by six points going to the break.

They have a blend of youth and experience with the likes of captain Brian Jaravaza, goalkeepers Winston Chiwetu and Aaron Ngwenya, defender Polite Mwenda providing the experience for the younger players.

They have young and more energetic players such as Leroy Ndlovu, Reason Sibanda and Chilumbiya Mkuli who provide the necessary energy if need be.

Ndlovu said that their mental focus is more important in the situation they find themselves in.

“It is such an important time for us with what we want to achieve as a group. We are at a critical time where I think our mental strength is more important than anything else. It is easy to destroy everything that we have worked so hard for in such a short space of time, therefore I think the way we prepare ourselves mentally as a group is very important,” said Ndlovu.

They will take on a struggling Mountain Climbers side when matches return.

Second placed ZPC Hwange will be disappointed by how they have dropped points in the first round. Defender Blessing Matebeck has said that the experience in their side will be vital come the second round.

“We found ourselves in a situation where we have to chase the log leaders who have been the most consistent team. I believe we have enough experience in the team, players who understand the kind of situation we find ourselves in, and understand what has to be done for us to achieve our goals.”

Njabulo Dube’s side will play host to 10th positioned Bosso90, a team that they beat 1-0 in the first leg away at White City B Arena.

In other matches, third placed Talen Vision will travel to Binga to face a Binga Pirates side that has struggled to get anything from the matches they have played. Golding Dube’s men from Filabusi will hope to steadily catch up with the leading pack. They are six points behind log leading Arenel.

Ciwu have so far been the surprise package of the season.

Many would have expected them to be fighting relegation just like last season but they find themselves comfortably cruising in fourth place and will hope that the break has not hampered their hopes of continuing their bright start to the season. They take on Indlovu Iyanyathela, a team that always presents a challenge to every opponent they face.

Relegation battling sides, Zimbabwe Saints, Makhandeni Pirates, Ajax Hotspurs and Binga Pirates will also hope to have an improved finish to their season.

The headlining fixture in the relegation battle will be between Ajax Hotspurs and Makhandeni Pirates. Ajax Hotspurs midfielder Mayfort Tshuma believes that his side can make it a double over Makhandeni and that they will improve going into the last round of fixtures.

“The last time we faced them we had not won in a while but we managed to get an important 1-0 victory. We have since had some encouraging results such as holding log leaders Arenel and I believe that the mentality has had a positive change over the past couple of weeks,” said Tshuma.

All the 18 teams will feel that they have so much to play for come the end of the season, all the fixtures are expected to be captivating.