Zimpapers Logo

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
VETERAN Hwange striker Gilbert Zulu’s strike in his team’s 2-0 win over Moto Moto took his scoring account to 16 goals in 24 matches, as the coalminers continued their steady march towards a quick Premiership return.

Zulu leads the Southern Region Division One League’s scorers chart and his experience has been key in Hwange’s promotional drive.

Another experienced player, Canaan Nkomo, formerly with Chicken Inn and Tsholotsho midfielder, scored Hwange’s other goal, which ensured the former Premiership side remains on track to win the First Division league.

Hwange are now on 59 points with five games left and need just 11 points to reach an unassailable 70 points that will automatically seal their promotion to the Premiership.

“We are taking each game as it comes and I’m happy we collected maximum points, but the race is not yet over. We have to maintain our focus till the end and guard against complacency,” said Nation Dube, Hwange’s coach.

Hwange are tipped to collect maximum points in their next match at home to ZRP Bulawayo, followed by an away trip to Bosso 90, then championship chasing Tsholotsho at home. The coal miners will then play Mosi Rovers in Victoria Falls and cap the season with a derby against ZPC Hwange.

Second-placed Tsholotsho made sure they kept their title hopes alive with a 3-1 win against Main Line. A brace by Mcebisi Moyo and a strike from Michael Bhebhe powered Tsholotsho to victory.

Tsholotsho trail Hwange by five points and will need other teams to do them a favour by stopping the table toppers if they are to pip them to the title.

Tsholotsho have a tricky away fixture against Makomo before hosting unpredictable Zim Leopards, who beat ZRP Bulawayo 2-1 at the weekend. They will face Hwange on Week 28 at the Colliery Stadium, with their last two games being at home to lowly placed Toronto and Casmyn in Turk Mine.

Results
Saturday: ZPC Hwange v Indlovu Iyanyathela (postponed), Talen Vision 1-0 Casmyn, NRZ Leopards 2-0 Toronto, ZRP Bulawayo Province 1-2 Zim Leopards, Bosso 90 v Makomo (postponed), Tsholotsho 3-1 Main Line
Sunday: Mosi Rovers 3-2 CIWU, Moto Moto 0-2 Hwange

Fixtures
Tomorrow: Bosso 90 v Makomo (Crescent), Zim Leopards v Moto Moto (Luveve)

Table
P W D L F A GD Pts

Hwange 25 18 5 2 52 12 40 59

Tsholotsho 25 15 9 1 33 12 21 54

ZPC Hwange 24 11 10 3 22 11 11 43

Talen Vision 25 11 9 5 34 15 19 42

I. Iyanyathela 24 11 7 6 31 19 12 40

Makomo 24 10 9 5 32 26 6 39

Bosso 90 24 8 9 7 22 19 3 33

CIWU 25 7 10 8 26 25 1 31

Mosi Rovers 25 8 4 13 27 35 -8 28

Zim Leopards 24 7 6 11 22 32 -10 27

Moto Moto 24 5 11 8 17 21 -4 26

Casmyn 25 6 8 11 14 25 -11 26

Main Line 25 6 5 14 16 33 -19 23

ZRP Bulawayo 25 4 7 14 16 32 -16 20

Toronto 25 2 12 11 10 27 -17 18

NRZ Leopards 25 4 6 15 14 45 -31 18

– @ZililoR