Chikwata takes on New West City

WOUNDED Zimbabwe Saints face a daunting task when they play inform New West City in a Zifa Southern Region Division One League match at White City Stadium on Sunday.

Saints started their campaign last week on a losing note when they went down 0-1 to Ntabazinduna.

Although it is still early days yet, Zimbabwe Saints cannot afford to lose another game on the trot.

But coming up against a hungry New West City team will present their technical team with a lot of headaches.

Chikwata head coach Edmore Sibanda is however defiant saying last week's loss was due to lack of fitness and a glut of chances they missed.

"We could have easily won that game against Ntabazinduna but we were wasteful in front of goal as our strikers took turns to miss the number of chances that came their way. If we had a sharp shooter we could have wrapped up that game in the first half. We were also found wanting in terms of fitness because we started our pre-season training very late," said Sibanda. His team however spent almost a month camped at the Matopos in preparation for the season.

New West City have started brightly winning their two opening matches but Sibanda is not moved by that feat and is gunning for maximum points on Sunday.

"We have been working on our mistakes from last week and the boys are now ready for the job at hand. The new combinations we have been working on are beginning to gel and we are gunning for maximum points against New West City," he said.

Chikwata will be pinning their hopes on strikers Golden Munandi, Steven Pasimubare and Forward Choko.

Midfielders Ntokozo Tshuma, Norman Jero and Mlamula Pakathi will provide them with a clean supply of balls while veteran goalkeeper Wonder Peperere will guard the goalposts.

New West City owner Tumediso "Drogba" Mokoena described the game as unpredictable since it is a derby.

"This is a difficult assignment for my boys and as a derby it is not about coaches but players. Most of these guys have played together and so they have a point to prove to each other. But I am looking forward to a good game on Sunday," said Mokoena.

Another explosive match is on the cards when pacesetters Bulawayo Chiefs lock horns with former Premier League outfit Bantu Rovers at Luveve Stadium tomorrow. The match is set to decide the direction of the title with the Plumtree-based side, who have the legendary Rahman Gumbo in their technical set up, hoping to be the second team in the province to bring premiership football to the border town.

It is a game that might go either way but Chiefs are the favourites on paper if their 4-0 drubbing of Mkhosana last week is anything to go by.

Blackboots welcome Ntabazinduna at Fairbridge Ground in a game that features security details.

Ntabazinduna's tails are up after conquering Zimbabwe Saints but should be wary of the danger posed by Blackboots. It's another derby in Hwange when the Thamsanqa Vundla-coached Technosphere play host to Mpumalanga, a match that could end either way.

Fitures Tomorrow

Bantu Rovers vs Bulawayo Chiefs (Luveve); Ajax Hotspurs vs Rufaro Rovers (White City); Blackboots vs Ntabazinduna (Fairbridge); Technosphere vs Mpumalanga (Hwange); Bulawayo Jumbos vs ZPC Hwange (Bradfield Barracks); Hwange Juniors vs Quelaton (Hwange)

Sunday

New West City vs Zimbabwe Saints (White City); Mkhosana vs Tsholotsho (Vic Falls)