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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE race for the sole Premiership ticket in the Southern Region Division One League enters its final third this weekend with Hwange hoping to consolidate their five-point lead over Tsholotsho when they take on CIWU in Bulawayo tomorrow.

The coalminers are seeking a quick return to the topflight league and seem to have the title race in their control as they top the table with 46 points, while Tsholotsho are second with 41 points.

Hwange registered a hard-fought 1-0 home win over army side Indlovu Iyanyathela last weekend and coach Nation Dube believes the race is still on and his players need to remain focused.

“There are no easy opponents and as such we have to treat each encounter like a final,” said Dube.

CIWU will have to closely watch veteran Hwange striker Gilbert Zulu, who is scoring for fun and is the league’s leading scorer with 14 goals.

The coalminers will be without experienced midfielders Canaan Nkomo and Eddie Nkulungu, who are serving suspensions after accumulating three yellow cards each.

Tsholotsho will be hoping CIWU do them a favour by holding Hwange and that they win against NRZ Leopards to close the gap.

Playing a day after the CIWU-Hwange encounter, Tsholotsho will head to Dete under pressure for a win, something that might work against them.

While the championship focus is on the two title chasing teams, fifth-placed Talen Vision will be targeting the scalp of soldiers Moto Moto in Hwange on Sunday.

Vision’s goal is to end the season strongly and challenge for the championship next season.

Fixtures
Tomorrow: ZRP Bulawayo Province v ZPC Hwange (Ross Camp), Makomo v Casmyn (Hwange, 12pm), Main Line v Zim Leopards (Plumtree), CIWU v Hwange (Crescent, 12PM), Indlovu Iyanyathela v Toronto (Brady Barracks, 12PM)

Sunday: Moto Moto v Talen Vision (Hwange, 12PM), Bosso 90 v Mosi Rovers (Barbourfields, 12PM), NRZ Leopards v Tsholotsho (Dete)

*All games kick-off at 3pm unless stated

Table
P W D L F A GD Pts
Hwange 20 14 4 2 37 12 25 46

Tsholotsho 20 11 8 1 23 10 13 41

ZPC Hwange 20 9 8 3 18 9 9 35

I. Iyanyathela 20 9 6 5 28 16 12 33

Talen Vision 20 8 7 5 25 15 10 31

Bosso 90 20 8 7 5 20 14 6 31

Makomo 20 8 6 5 25 23 2 31

CIWU 20 6 8 6 20 19 1 25

Moto Moto 19 5 8 7 16 17 -1 23

Mosi Rovers 20 7 2 11 23 28 -5 23

Casmyn 20 5 6 9 12 21 -9 21

Zim Leopards 20 5 5 10 15 27 -12 20

Main Line 20 5 4 11 13 25 -14 19

Toronto 20 2 12 6 10 18 -8 18

NRZ Leopards 19 3 5 11 11 26 -15 14

ZRP Bulawayo 20 3 4 13 10 26 -16 14

– @ZililoR