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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
FACED with the possibility of ending their two-year flirtation with the topflight league, Bulawayo City have roped in former national team midfielder Johannes Ngodzo to assist to keep the sinking ship afloat.

Ngodzo, an ex-Bantu Rovers coach who led the club into the Premiership after winning the 2016 Southern Region League, began work with City last week.

He travelled with the team to Harare where they lost 0-2 to Yadah FC.

Ngodzo joins the technical team led by Mandla Mpofu and also includes veteran trainer Barry Daka, Tavaka Gumbo, Try Ncube and goalkeepers’ coach Reginald Buhali.

Jerry Sibanda, City’s chairman, said Ngodzo is only coming in as a consultant.

Ngodzo and Ncube did not sit on the technical bench when they lost to Yadah, a result that left City just a place above relegation with 35 points from 31 games. Hwange, who occupy the last relegation slot in 15th place, are on 34 points.

“It’s true that Johannes Ngodzo is helping the team and please note that he has not been appointed to the position of assistant coach, but is only helping out as a consultant. He is here to analyse the game for the coach alongside Try Ncube, and they are not allowed to sit on the bench because they are not holders of Caf A Licences,” said Sibanda.

“What we noted was that at times the head coach might be under pressure to identify areas of concern and as such someone who is not on the bench can note those and pass the message to the head coach,” he said.

City are left with three tricky encounters, Dynamos (home), Caps United (away) and wrap up the season against Bantu Rovers in Bulawayo.

The City boss firmly believes they will survive the chop.

“We’re behind our coach and his team. We are confident of pulling through because a victory and a draw can save us,” Sibanda said.

To survive the axe, City have to win their remaining games, starting with the home encounter against title chasing Dynamos.

Bantu Rovers and Tsholotsho have already been relegated, leaving third from bottom Shabanie Mine, who drew 1-1 against Black Rhinos, Hwange, who clobbered Highlanders 3-0, City, Harare City, who lost 1-2 away at Triangle United, and Yadah fighting for their survival.

Shabanie face Hwange in Zvishavane, a match that both sides desperately need to win to keep their survival chances alive. Shabanie’s last two games are against How Mine (away) and Yadah (home).

The survival road for Hwange will see them welcoming fellow strugglers, Harare City at the Colliery before they end their campaign with a trip to ZPC Kariba.

Yadah face champions Caps United and Highlanders, sides that are virtually playing for pride. Yadah end their season with a trip to Zvishavane against Shabanie.

Harare City will are in a tight corner as they will play their last two games away against Hwange and How Mine. But before that, Harare City will welcome Black Rhinos, who might find themselves sucked into the relegation mix should they lose.

Rhinos have 39 points, are five points clear of relegation, and dropping points while the bottom teams win can make their last games nervy.

Matchday 31 Results

Friday: How Mine 0-1 Caps United, Chicken Inn 1-0 Tsholotsho FC
Saturday: Yadah FC 2-0 Bulawayo City, FC Platinum 3-0 ZPC Kariba, Black Rhinos 1-1 Shabanie Mine
Sunday: Bantu Rovers 0-1 Ngezi Platinum, Hwange 3-0 Highlanders, Triangle United 2-1 Harare City, Dynamos 1-0 Chapungu

Table

P     W     D     L     F     A     GD     Pts
Ngezi Platinum Stars     31     19     6     6     51     26     25     63
FC Platinum     31     17     12     2     35     14     21     63
Dynamos     31     18     7     6     49     24     25     61
Chicken Inn     31     18     5     8     32     19     13     59
Caps United     31     14     11     6     40     26     14     53
How Mine     31     13     7     11     28     31     -3     46
Highlanders     31     12     7     12     32     32     0     43
ZPC Kariba     31     11     8     12     27     30     -3     41
Triangle United     31     10     10    11     33     35     -2     40
Chapungu     31     10     10     11     23     25 -2     40
Black Rhinos     31     10     9     12     33     30     3     39
Yadah FC     31     9     10     12     29     36     -7     37
Harare City     31     9     8     14     28     26     2     35
Bulawayo City     31     10     5     16     32     42     -10     35
Hwange     31     9     7    15     27     35     -8     34
Shabanie Mine     31     7     11     12     22     31     -9     33
Tsholotsho FC     31     4     12     15     19     40     -21    24
Bantu Rovers     31     4     4     23     26     63     -37     16

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