Double header for BF

SOCCER fans in Bulawayo are in for a treat when Barbourfields Stadium hosts a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League double header featuring Bulawayo City, Border Strikers, Chicken Inn and Ngezi Platinum. The City of Kings fans missed topfl ight action over the weekend when the league announced the cancelations of Tsholotsho FC-Mutare City and Highlanders- Triangle United games at the advice of police.

Tomorrow's double treat will warm up for Th ursday's How Mine versus Dynamos game. Bulawayo City play Border Strikers while Chicken Inn tackle Ngezi Platinum. All the three matches will be live on SuperSport, meaning that those who can't make it to Barbourfields for the epic games can follow the action on television.

City, who finally remembered how a victory tastes like following three consecutive defeats, put an end to a winless streak on Sunday, beating Hwange 1-0 at the Colliery Stadium.

Before the trip to Hwange, the local authority bankrolled club had lost 0-2 to Harare City, 1-2 against Caps United and 0-1 to Dynamos. City are keen to build on their Hwange victory, with their coach Philani Beefy Ncube ruling out complacency.

Strikers gave Dynamos a good run for their money when they lost 0-2 at Rufaro on Sunday and will be no pushovers.

"Our intention is to try and build from this victory. We worked hard for the win against Hwange and I must commend my players for a good show especially coming from three losses in a row. Now that we've won, hopefully we will be able to continue with our fighting spirit and probably get another victory on Wednesday.

We've got lots of respect for Border Strikers because they're in the same league as we are. They are also in their maiden PSL season and despite that they're at the bottom of the table, they're a good side," said Ncube.

City who got their goal in Hwange from midfielder Sipho Dube will be hoping that the central midfielder who has been a vital cog in the creative unit continues with his fine form.

Ncube's side who are now eighth on the table with 17 points from 13 matches will bank on captain Xolisani Moyo, Manuel Mandiranga, Innocent Kutsanzira and Dube to create scoring opportunities for their forwards Mkhokheli Dube and newly signed Felix Kuswatuka who started the game in Hwange.

City's defence is likely to be made up of Lewis Ncube, Brian Chikwenya, Zibusiso Sibanda and Peace Tshuma while goalkeeper Liberty Chirava will start ahead on Ndodana Sibanda.

With nothing to lose, Strikers will bank on goalkeeper Talent Sande, Godfrey Mukambi, Junildy Borges, Tafadzwa Jaravani, Livingstone Genti and Ephraim Mwinga. Aft er the Bulawayo City versus Strikers game, Chicken Inn will be hoping to recover from a shock 1-2 loss to Chapungu and try stop Tonderai Ndiraya's three-match winning streak since taking over as Ngezi Platinum coach.

The defending champions blew a chance to move into the top six by losing to Chapungu who were also under pressure for a victory. After beating Highlanders 2-0 last week, Chicken Inn looked as if they had struck the chord that they'd been missing since the start of the season. They played with fl air against Bosso, outclassing the Bulawayo giants in all departments but it would appear they only flattered to deceive.

If they continue being inconsistent, Chicken Inn who are on position seven with 17 points from 12 matches, may as well forget about their title defence. Table-toppers FC Platinum who were held to a 0-0 draw by championship contenders Caps United face wounded lion Hwange at the Colliery hoping to get maximum points.

The platinum miners sit at the apex with 27 points from 12 games, one ahead of Highlanders who have also played the same number of matches. FC Platinum were forced to make injury inspired changes to their side that drew against Caps United, leaving out the Moyo twins Elvis and Kevin who play in defence, central midfi elder Nqobizitha Masuku and striker Tarisai Rukanda.

Going to Hwange, the league's pacesetters may pull a shocker, pile misery on the coalminers and return home with maximum points. They will bank on consistent midfield performer

Winston Mhango, winger Ishmael Wadi, attacking midfielder Wisdom Mutasa, forwards Rodwell Chinyengetere, Brian Muzondiwa and Marshal Mudehwe.

Third placed Caps United are at home to secondfrom-bottom Tsholotsho FC. The Zhwane outfit did not play at the weekend and it will be a shocker if they beat the Green Machine.

Tsholotsho FC have gone for six matches without a win, only managing a 1-1 draw against How Mine. Their last victory was on May 14 when they shocked Harare City away, beating them 0-1.

Meanwhile, second placed Highlanders are on the road to Manicaland Province for a date with Mutare City on Thursday.

Results at a glance
Saturday: FC Platinum 0-0 Caps United, Tsholotsho FC v
Mutare City Rovers (Postponed), Chapungu 2-1 Chicken Inn,
Harare City 0-0 How Mine, Ngezi Platinum Stars 1-0 ZPC Kariba
Sunday: Hwange 0-1 Bulawayo City, Highlanders v Triangle
United (Postponed), Dynamos 2-0 Border Strikers

Fixtures
Tomorrow: Bulawayo City v Border Strikers (Barbourfi elds,
1PM, SuperSport), Chicken Inn v Ngezi Platinum Stars
(Barbourfi elds, 3PM, SuperSport), ZPC Kariba v Harare City
(Nyamhunga), Caps United v Tsholotsho FC (National Sports

Stadium), Triangle United v Chapungu (Gibbo), Hwange v FC
Platinum (Colliery)
Thursday: How Mine v Dynamos (Barbourfi elds, 3PM,
SuperSport), Mutare City Rovers v Highlanders (Sakubva)

Week 15
Saturday, July 16: Harare City v Chicken Inn (Rufaro), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Triangle United (Baobab), Tsholotsho FC v Hwange (White City, 3PM, SuperSport)
Sunday, July 17: Dynamos v ZPC Kariba (Rufaro), Border Strikers v How Mine (Dulivhadzimu), FC Platinum v Bulawayo City (Mandava), Chapungu v Mutare City Rovers (Ascot), Highlanders v Caps United (Barbourfi elds, 3PM, SuperSport)