Bantu Rovers not throwing in the towel yet

Sport
STRUGGLING Bantu Rovers are not giving up hope on remaining in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League as they face title chasing Caps United at Hartsfield Grounds today.

STRUGGLING Bantu Rovers are not giving up hope on remaining in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League as they face title chasing Caps United at Hartsfield Grounds today.

FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER

It has not been all rosy for Tshintsha Guluva, who returned to top-flight action this year through a Plumtree Chiefs franchise.

They wallow on position 15 on the log table with 16 points from four wins and four draws having lost 13 matches.

They have 27 points to fight for and head coach Methembe Ndlovu said the most important thing was not to put pressure on his boys, but to focus on each game as it came.

“We don’t want to put pressure on the boys, but to focus on one game as it comes and try to minimise on our mistakes. We will fight on and try to maximise on the chances that we get,” Ndlovu said.

Bantu Rovers are still without Emberton Tshuma, who is out injured but have veterans Obadiah Tarumbwa, Sizalobuhle Dube, Fortune Ncube, Zephaniah Ngodzo and Hebert Dick in camp blended with the youthful Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Bukhosi Sibanda, Dalubuhle Moraka, Moses Majika and Teenage Hadebe.

Caps United mentor Taurai Mangwiro, eyeing the championship with 37 points from 21 games, said they were not going to be complacent against Bantu Rovers.

“I have watched Bantu Rovers play. They are not bad. It’s just that results are not coming their way.

We just have to raise our game and give it our best shot. We are not going to deceive ourselves and be complacent. We beat them 1-0 (in Harare), but it was a tough contest.

”What is important for us now is staying within touching distance of the leading pack. Victory will certainly put us in the right direction.

For the first time, I have got a full complement of the squad with no injuries and no suspensions,” Mangwiro said.

Hardlife Zvirekwi, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Tendai Samanja, Tapiwa Khumbuyani, Nicholas Alifandika, Honey Chimutimunzeve, Kelvin Bulaji and Leonard Fiyado make up part of the squad to face Bantu Rovers this afternoon.

Fixtures Today: Shabanie Mine v Hwange (Maglas), Bantu Rovers v Caps United (Hartsfield)

Tomorrow: How Mine v ZPC Kariba (Hartsfield)