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Methembe Ndlovu

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
RELEGATION staring Bantu Rovers FC have declared they will take their Premiership survival fight to the wire with its management giving a vote of confidence in its technical team.
Today they play host to championship contenders Caps United at Hartsfield Grounds.
The Bulawayo outfit who are sitting precariously in the drop zone are just second from the bottom with 16 points after 21 outings and have gone for nine games without winning.

Bantu Rovers last registered a win on June 21 when they beat Buffaloes 3-1 at home and in the nine games that they played after, they picked two points playing to identical 1-1 draws with Triangle and FC Platinum.

Despite a string of bad results, Bantu Rovers’ general manager Wilbert Sibanda said they have faith in their squad.
“Obviously the reflection of how we play is not the same with the results but there is no need to press panic buttons. We have a qualified technical team who have done well and have not been afraid to throw into the fray youngsters with the future in mind. We might be down at the moment but believe you me we will emerge stronger after this bad spell.

“What is important is for us to take each game as it comes and try to get positive results. It’s only a matter of time before we get a win but we are not putting our boys or coaches under pressure,” said Sibanda.

Methembe Ndlovu, the last coach to win the championship with Highlanders in 2006 is Bantu Rovers’ head coach with Mandla Mpofu assisting him.
Ndlovu is the founding director of Bantu Rovers.

Bantu Rovers have a number of experienced players in their squad like Obadiah Tarumbwa, Zephaniah Ngodzo, Sizalobuhle Dube, Hebert Dick and Lawson Nkomo who were expected to guide the youngsters such as Bukhosi Sibanda, Denzel Khumalo, Teenage Hadebe and Dalubuhle Moroka to staying in the Premiership.

Facing Caps United today, Bantu Rovers should brace for a tough encounter as the Green Machine want to keep up with the championship chasing teams and will fire from all cylinders.

Caps United’s coach Taurai Mangwiro ruled out complacency from his side.
“We respect Bantu Rovers like all the teams in the Premiership and we are not underrating them at all. They play good football and they are quick to close in, remember, they are the side who we worked hard to beat 1-0 at home so they won’t be an easy walk on the park,” said Mangwiro.

Fixtures
Today: Shabanie Mine v Hwange (Maglas), Bantu Rovers v Caps United (Hartsfield)
Tomorrow: How Mine v ZPC Kariba (Hartsfield)