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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER How Mine and Bulawayo City striker Qinani Sibanda opened his goal account at Southern Region Division One League campaigners ZPC Hwange with a hat-trick as the electricity generators powered 3-1 past Victoria Tigers 3-1 at the weekend.

Sibanda, who joined ZPC Hwange from leaders Bulawayo Chiefs during the midseason break, seems to have quickly settled at his new home by instantly delivering for the powermen, who are in second place on the league table.

Sibanda left Chiefs after seeing little action at the championship favourites where coach Thulani Sibanda preferred Kundishora Chakanyuka and Adrian Banana to lead their attack.

The victory on the road against Victoria Falls Tigers saw ZPC Hwange moving onto 28 points, 12 behind Chiefs, who collected maximum points against ZRP Bulawayo Province following a 2-1 win.

ZPC Hwange went into the weekend hard-pressed for a win to maintain their slim title hopes following last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Indlovu Iyanyathela.

“I’m at ZPC Hwange to enjoy my game and try and help the team get as many wins as possible. I want to thank my coaches and teammates for this win. This is not about Qinani, but this victory is a team effort,” Sibanda said.

While ZPC Hwange celebrated their victory, Victoria Falls-based Amagagasi suffered their eighth defeat of the season when they were downed 1-3 by Black Boots.

A brace by Tashinga Mungadze and strike from Keith Chikotora gave Black Boots maximum points, while bottom-placed Amagagasi got their consolation goal from Godknows Sibanda.

Amagagasi, who finished the 2016 season in third place behind winners Bantu Rovers and Chiefs, are struggling to find the form that made them 2017 pre-season favourites. They anchor the table with just nine points from 15 outings.

Amagagasi risk being relegated from the First Division and if they harbour hopes of remaining in the second tier league next season, the Victoria Falls side needs to start winning games.

Meanwhile, Bosso 90 recovered from last weekend’s 1-2 loss to Victoria Falls Tigers to gun down army side Indlovu Iyanyathela 3-0 at White City Stadium.

Twenty-year-old striker Thembalethu Mthunzi, who scored for the Bosso development side that beat Dynamos 2-0 in a Heroes’ Day celebratory match last week, was on target against Indlovu Iyanyathela.

Midfielders, Onwell Gombami and Percy Maphosa grabbed the other two.

Results

Saturday: Bosso 90 3-0 Indlovu Iyanyathela, Amagagasi 1-3 Black Boots, Mosi Rovers 0-1 Talen Vision, Makomo 3-0 Chiwororo (walkover)
Sunday: Bulawayo Chiefs 2-1 ZRP Bulawayo Province, Victoria Falls Tigers 1-3 ZPC Hwange

Table

P     W     D     L     F     A     GD     Pts
Bulawayo Chiefs     14     13     1     0     31     3     28     40
ZPC Hwange     14     8     4     2     23     7     16     28
Bosso 90     15     7     5     3     18     13     5     26
Makomo     15     6     6     3     16     13     3     24
Zim Leopards     14     5     5     4     22     23     -1    20
Casmyn     14     5     4     5     16     12     4     19
Indlovu Iyanyathela     15     5     4     6     16     21     -5     19
Talen Vision     14     4     6     4     11     10     1     18
ZRP Bulawayo     14     4     5     5     16     15     1     17
Mosi Rovers     15     4     5     6     15     21     -6     17
Black Boots     15     4     5     6     20     28     -8     17
Chiwororo     15     2     4     9     15     26     -11     10
Victoria Falls Tigers     15     2     4     9     7     23     -16     10
Amagagasi     15     1     6     8     10     21     -11     9

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