Sick leave for Chiefs

ZIFA Southern Region chairman Musa Mandaza has said they will give Division One side Bulawayo Chiefs ample time to recover before resuming their league matches following a near-fatal road accident that left 15 players injured on Friday.

Chiefs' team bus overturned 80KM before Hwange on Friday afternoon on their way to Victoria Falls for a match against table anchors Victoria Falls Tigers.

Speaking after seeing the team bus' wreckage yesterday, Mandaza said they were praying for a speedy recovery of the Chiefs players.

"We thank God no life was lost in that accident. If you look at the wreckage, it's hard to believe that no one died because we're told this Mercedes Benz Sprinter rolled three times," said Mandaza.

"What I've told Chiefs' director (Lovemore Sibanda) is that they should give us a report as to how many players were injured before rushing to fixture them. We'll give them time to recuperate and they'll have to play catch-up," he said.

Chiefs' caretaker coach Anzilom Ndlovu is going for an operation today after suffering multiple fractures. Goalkeepers' coach Nkosi Ncube and manager Farai Sibanda also suffered fractures.

Chiefs' director Sibanda said five players were seriously injured and are still under observation.

"Most of the players are at Mpilo (Hospital). Tatenda Madzino broke his arm, Qinani Sibanda is complaining of back pains and we heard that he has a crack on his spine. Sikhumbulani Dube has multiple fractures and so has Thabani Moyo. Mengezi Dube broke two ribs, while Joseph Mutambiranwa, Stanley Ngara, Ashton Mhlanga, Polite Moyo and Taloso Ndlovu all have fractures or bruises," said Sibanda.

"We're grateful to the Southern Region football family and Zifa executive for the love they've shown to us during this time. The doctors have said the boys mustn't train for two weeks and after that they'll have to be assessed and begin training under a medical person. I think we'll need about a month to have our guys back and truly this will have an effect on our title aspirations," said Sibanda.

Chiefs are second on the league table and trail leaders Amagagasi by five points, with a game in hand.

Amagagasi took their points tally to 18 after winning their sixth consecutive match of the season by beating ZRP Hwange 3-0.

Nhlanhla Ndlovu scored a hat-trick for the ambitious Victoria Falls side that remains the only team yet to drop a point.

Bantu Rovers recorded their fourth straight win, beating Technosphere 2-0 in Hwange courtesy of goals by Fortune Nkomazana and Lenience Mpofu.

Rovers' coach Johannes Ngodzo said: "In as far as the championship race is concerned, we just want to stay within reach of the leading pack. Remember the bulk of our players are Under-20 and for us as Bantu to say to the boys go for the championship will be putting them under unnecessary pressure. We just want to continue playing well."

A hat-trick by Joseph Wilson and a goal by Ray Lunga saw Highlanders' development side Bosso 90 beating Casmyn 4-2 at White City Stadium. Casmyn's goals came from Perseverance Sibanda and Charles Murusha.

Results

Saturday: Technosphere 0-2 Bantu Rovers, Black Boots 2-0 Talen Vision, ZPC Hwange 0-0 Hwange Juniors, Bosso90 4-2 Casmyn, Ntabazinduna 1-0 ZRP Bulawayo Province, Victoria Falls Tigers v Bulawayo Chiefs (cancelled)

Sunday: Amagagasi 3-0 ZRP Hwange