×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Hwange plot survival

Sport
TROUBLED Hwange Football Club are hard-pressed to start collecting maximum points if they are to stay in the Castle Premiership.

TROUBLED Hwange Football Club are hard-pressed to start collecting maximum points if they are to stay in the Castle Premiership. They take on army side Buffaloes at Sakubva Stadium on Sunday.

REPORT BY FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER

With the way things have been going for the coal miners, they could be headed for Division One next year as they have been struggling to better their play this season. Hwange, a club that represented the country in the Caf Confederation Cup this year after ending last season on an impressive position four, have not been doing well and have only managed one win in the second half of the season, beating Caps United 2-1 in Harare on July 15.

After that they played two draws, sharing the spoils with Gunners and Harare City before losing the next seven matches.

They lie on position 12 on the log standings with 25 points from 25 matches, having won seven times, drawn four times and lost 13 games. Hwange arrived in Mutare on Wednesday night, an indication that they mean business and head coach Nation Dube was confident of a positive result.

“We have to pick up a point or three. It has dawned on everyone and the players are realising that all is not well. We arrived here yesterday (Wednesday) night and we trained in the morning (yesterday) and we have another session in the afternoon. We want to make sure that when we play on Sunday, the boys will be fresh. We are confident that we will get a positive result against Buffaloes,” Dube said.

Hwange lost playmaker skipper Rodwell Chinyengetere due to injury, but have in camp Francisco Zvikumbawire, Winston Mhango, Farai Vimisai, Nkosana Siwela, Evans Rusike and veteran Gilbert Zulu as they plot their survival. However, Buffaloes gaffer Saul Chaminuka, who is aiming for top-five finish in the league, warned the coal miners.

“We are also ready for them. They beat us in Hwange and we have to beat them here as well. We are looking forward to the game as we want to end the season in the top five. We have a few injuries here and there, but I am sure everyone will be fit on Sunday.”

Buffaloes, coming from a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Caps United in the Mbada Diamonds Cup quarter-final, have had a good season in the Premiership and perch on position six on the table, tied with Shabanie Mine on 40 points from 25 matches.

Some of the players at Buffaloes are Danai Chinowawa, Prosper Matizanadzo, Phineas Bamusi, Tendai Ndlovu and Never Musvipa.

Meanwhile, Division One-bound Quelaton will host Harare City at Luveve Stadium tomorrow.