Zimpapers Logo

Ricky Zililo @ZililoR
BANTU Rovers will be hoping to cap their fine first half of the Southern Region Division One Soccer League season with a victory against Casmyn at Turk Mine this afternoon.

The Casmyn-Rovers encounter is one of the three matches lined up for the weekend. Rovers are at the top of the table with 34 points and can stretch the one-point lead they have over second placed Amagagasi to four if they pick maximum points at Turk Mine.

The league’s pacesetters go into the match bubbling with confidence following their 4-0 win against ZRP Hwange and will be hoping to beat Casmyn who held Bulawayo Chiefs 0-0 in their midweek encounter.

Rovers who beat Casmyn 1-0 at Turk Mine last season, courtesy of a Zephaniah Ngodzo strike from a free kick, will have last week scorers Fortune Nkomazana, Joshua Wilson and Lenience Mpofu leading their strike force.

Ngodzo, Gilbert Banda and Lindelani Ncube are the seasoned players at Rovers expected to give guidance to youngsters who include skipper Bukhosi Sibanda, Gladman Bharibhari, Lucky Ndlela and Denzel Khumalo.

Rovers’ coach Johannes Ngodzo said they were expecting a tough encounter but were ready for it.

“We’re ready for the game and we’re looking forward to a great game. Casmyn are a good side and the fact that they held Chiefs during the week shows that they can’t be underrated. We know that being at the top everyone wants to beat us so we’re ready for the challenge. We respect them but we’re hoping to get a positive result,” said Johannes.

Casmyn are on position 11 with 15 points and a victory over Rovers will take them two places up the ladder to position nine. In other matches, Bulawayo Chiefs will be hoping to add more woes to ZRP Hwange and get a victory that will push them into the top three.

Chiefs are fourth on the table with 28 points and can dislodge ZPC Hwange from third if they beat their opponents who were clobbered 4-0 by Rovers last week.

Today’s win for Chiefs will be a confidence booster for the team going into the last half.

Tomorrow, Victoria Falls Tigers welcome Technosphere to Chinotimba Stadium for the Matabeleland North derby.

Fixtures

Today: Casmyn v Bantu Rovers (Turk Mine), ZRP Hwange v Bulawayo Chiefs (Hwange)

Tomorrow: Victoria Falls Tigers v Technosphere (Victoria Falls)