Hwange face Bantu Rovers

Sport
HWANGE will be hoping to recover from the slip that saw them lose 0-2 to How Mine at Luveve Stadium last weekend when they host Bantu Rovers at the Colliery Stadium on Sunday.

HWANGE will be hoping to recover from the slip that saw them lose 0-2 to How Mine at Luveve Stadium last weekend when they host Bantu Rovers at the Colliery Stadium on Sunday. SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER

The coal miners have had a good start to the season winning six of the seven games they have played until they were handed their first defeat of the season by the gold miners.

Hwange wil face the Methembe Ndlovu-coached side that is itching for victory having dropped six points following the 0-1 loss to Shabanie Mine and last Saturday’s 0-2 loss to Chiredzi.

Hwange coach Nation Dube yesterday told Southern Eye Sport that they anticipate a tough battle against Bantu Rovers.

“If you look at it, both teams are under pressure. We lost to How Mine while Bantu Rovers lost to Chiredzi. We will be under pressure to win at home. Bantu Rovers are also saying that they don’t want to lose the third game in a row.

“It will be a very tight game. Bantu Rovers will also say that Chiredzi collected maximum points at their home ground, so they can also do that at the Colliery. They underrated Chiredzi and when they were a goal down it was difficult for them to come back. But we know that Bantu Rovers can raise their game. They know they can snatch a point because we played a 2-2 draw against them in a pre-season friendly,” he said.

Bantu Rovers spokesman Wilbert Sibanda yesterday said they were geared up for the battle against Hwange.

“We are not looking at our loss to Chiredzi and we are also not looking at the fact that Hwange lost to How Mine. We are telling the players to concentrate on the game against Hwange,” he said.

“Hwange have started the season well, so we expect a very tough match. We will do our best on the day. We have a couple of players who are injured and would have to undergo late fitness tests. But we registered 30 players, so we should not use that as an excuse.”

Bantu Rovers captain Nqobizitha Masuku and former Highlanders defender Lawson Nkomo were injured during the game against Chiredzi while Mduduzi Dube and Teenage Hadebe are also nursing injuries.

Ndlovu will bank on players like Zephaniah Ngodzo, Fortune Ncube, Proud Zireni, Sizalobuhle Dube as well as Obadiah Tarumbwa while hoping Takunda Mutanga or Brighton Chipula do not concede.

Bantu Rovers players will have to contend with veteran striker Gilbert Zulu, star midfielder Rodwell Chinyengetere, Farai Vimisayi, Warriors defender and new Chippa United signing Eric Chipeta and Nkosana Siwela while Aleck Marime is suspended.