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Bantu Rovers

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
SOUTHERN Region Division One League leaders Bantu Rovers will seek to maintain their seven-point lead when they take on tricky ZRP Bulawayo at Luveve Stadium on Sunday.

The former Premier Soccer League side sits at the top of the table with 40 points from 16 games and appears to be in control of their championship destiny.

After bowing out of the Raj Modi-sponsored John Landa Nkomo Top 8 Tournament following a 1-2 loss to Bulawayo Chiefs, Rovers, who rested their entire squad for the cup game and fielded a youthful side, are confident of beating ZRP Bulawayo.

On paper, ZRP Bulawayo have a strong squad with a number of players with Premiership experience.

They have skipper Patrick Mpofu, ex-Highlanders and How Mine midfielder Louis Matawu, Benboy Chinyanga and Kelvin Sibanda, among other players.

Rovers’ hopes rest on veterans Zephaniah Ngodzo and Lindelani Vice Ncube, as well as Young Warriors’ striker Bukhosi Sibanda, Gladman Bharibhari and Denzel Khumalo.

A defeat for Rovers could see second-placed Amagagasi closing in on the table toppers in the event that they beat Makomo in Hwange tomorrow.

Makomo are no pushovers and Amagagasi should expect a tough encounter against the coalmining town club coached by Tapela Ngwenya.

Another game that promises to be a thriller is the Bulawayo Chiefs-Indlovu Iyanyathela clash set for Luveve on Sunday.

Chiefs are championship dark horses and although they claim to be out of the title race, they pose a threat to other teams and will want to keep up with the leading pack.

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Makomo v Amagagasi (Hwange), Casmyn v ZRP Hwange (Turk Mine), Talen Vision v Hwange Juniors (White City, 12PM), ZPC Hwange v Black Boots (Hwange)

Sunday: Bulawayo Chiefs v Indlovu Iyanyathela (Luveve), Ntabazinduna v Technosphere (Ntabazinduna, 1PM), Bantu Rovers v ZRP Bulawayo Province (Luveve, 12PM), Victoria Falls Tigers v Bosso 90 (Victoria Falls)

All matches start at 3pm unless indicated

Table
P    W    D    L    F    A    GD    Pts
Bantu Rovers                16    13    1    2    29    4    25    40
Amagagasi                     15    10    3    2    22    7    15    33
Bulawayo Chiefs          16    9    5    2    23    8    15    32
ZPC Hwange                 16    8    7    1    15    6    9    31
Victoria Falls Tigers    16    7    3    6    16    15    1    24
Technosphere               16    6    6    4    10    11    -1    24
Black Boots                    15    6    4    5    19    13    6    22
ZRP Bulawayo               15    5    4    6    13    13    0    19
Talen Vision                   16    5    4    7    14    19    -5    19
Bosso90                           16    4    5    7    16    20    -4    17
Casmyn                            16    3    6    7    12    16    -4    15
Hwange Juniors             16    3    5    7    7    14    -7    15
Ntabazinduna                 16    3    6    7    7    20    -13    15
Makomo                           16    3    5    8    8    14    -6    14
Indlovu Iyanyathela       16    4    2    10    8    21    -13    14
ZRP Hwange                    15    2    3    10    10    28    -18    9

@ZililoR.