Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO City want to cap their Southern Region Soccer League season in style by winning their last game of the season against Indlovu Iyanyathela at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow.
The champions’ coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube said his charges were fired up for their game against the army side, which has had an improved second half of the season.
“Like I said three weeks ago, we want to win all the games and it will be nice if we bid Division One Soccer League farewell with a win. The guys are excited that finally the season is coming to an end and they deserve to go for off season with a victory. It has been a challenging year and we are now looking forward to the PSL,” said Ncube.
The league management will present City with their winners’ medals and shield after the encounter.
The champions should prepare for a tough encounter against Bekithemba “Super” Ndlovu’s side that is seventh on the league table and stand a chance to end the season one place up the ladder should they beat City and Makomo loses to Technosphere.
The battle for a top four finish is on in Hwange tomorrow where ZPC Hwange will clash against Bantu Rovers.
Both sides are tied on 50 points, with ZPC Hwange sitting on position four due to a superior goal difference.
Bantu Rovers are also aiming for a strong finish, with coach Johannes Ngodzo saying a top four finish will console them for their failure to win the title. He is, however, wary of the electricity generators.
“It’s going to be a difficult game because ZPC Hwange, just like us, want to be in the top four. We have prepared hard for the game and the boys know that a top four finish is a respectable position which will be a consolation for us. I think if we play our normal game we will be able to get three points,” said Ngodzo.
Ngodzo will bank on his young brother Zephaniah Ngodzo, the league’s top goal scorer with nine goals Lenience “Qobho” Mpofu, Moses Majika, national Under-20 forward Bukhosi “Zakhu” Sibanda and Denzel Khumalo.
Runners-up Bulawayo Chiefs end their campaign with an away trip to Turk Mine to meet Casmyn.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Makomo v Technosphere (Hwange), Black Boots v Mpumalanga (Fairbridge), Hwange Juniors v Old Nic Mine (cancelled), Nust v Ntabazinduna (Luveve), ZPC Hwange v Bantu Rovers (Hwange), Casmyn v Bulawayo Chiefs (Turk Mine), Indlovu Iyanyathela v Bulawayo City (Barbourfields)
Sunday: Trumus v Amagagasi (Victoria Falls)
P W D L F A GD Pts
Bulawayo City 29 21 5 3 40 7 33 68
Bulawayo Chiefs 29 18 7 4 45 11 35 61
Technosphere 29 16 7 6 33 15 18 55
ZPC Hwange 29 13 11 5 31 13 18 50
Bantu Rovers** 29 15 5 9 34 18 16 50
Makomo 29 13 6 10 27 26 1 45
Indlovu Iyanyathela 29 12 7 10 22 20 2 44
Casmyn 29 12 7 10 28 25 3 43
Black Boots 29 8 14 7 28 23 5 38
Amagagasi 29 8 12 9 20 23 -3 36
Ntabazinduna 29 8 9 12 24 29 -4 33
Nust 29 6 12 11 20 26 -6 30
Trumus Warriors 29 6 10 13 18 23 -5 28
Hwange Juniors 29 5 8 16 18 36 -18 23
Mpumalanga 29 4 3 22 12 49 -37 15
Old Nic Mine 29 1 6 22 7 64 -57 9
**Points deducted for using a suspended player