ZIFA Southern Region Division One title contenders Bantu Rovers and How Mine fell by the wayside at the weekend. Report by Fortune Mbele Sports Reporter
Bantu Rovers lost 2-0 to eighth-placed Hwange Juniors in Hwange on Saturday, to remain on 53 points from 25 games while How Mine were also dismissed 2-1 by ZPC Hwange in the coal mining town.
Second-placed How Mine remained on 52 points from 26 matches while ZPC Hwange closed the gap on the two sides with the victory over How Mine, to land on 51 points from 26 points, rendering the competition for the ticket to the Premiership next year even stiffer.
Police team Black Boots dislodged New West City from the fourth spot after they beat Bulawayo Chiefs 2-0 in Plumtree. They are now on 49 points from 26 games. Former Premiership sides Railstars and Zimbabwe Saints shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Raylton Sports Club.
Railstars trail New West City by a point while “Chikwata” are on position 14 with 31 points after winning only eight of their 26 games, having drawn seven times and lost 12 matches.
Mpumalanga, who last week held Bantu Rovers to a 3-3 draw at Luveve Stadium, lost 2-0 to Tsholotsho away from home. Hwange-based Rufaro Rovers rode over Zimbabwe Saints to sit on position 13 after edging town neighbours Power Cosmos 3-1.
Division Two-bound Emakhandeni Pirates got three points without kicking a ball after fellow strugglers Projects failed to make the trip to Bulawayo for the match on Sunday.
