Tsholotsho remain hopeful

Sport
DESPITE falling to Bulawayo City at Luveve Stadium yesterday, Tsholotsho FC are still confident they will survive relegation going into their last match of the current Premier Soccer League season at home to FC Platinum.

TSHOLOTSHO . . . . . .(0) 1 BULAWAYO CITY . . . . (0) 2

DESPITE falling to Bulawayo City at Luveve Stadium yesterday, Tsholotsho FC are still confident they will survive relegation going into their last match of the current Premier Soccer League season at home to FC Platinum.

BY FORTUNE MBELE

Although the relegation and promotion conundrum is yet to be resolved, with teams still in the dark – with two or four clubs set to drop to the unfashionable Division One – Tsholotsho coach Lizwe Sweswe yesterday said they still had hope of remaining in the top-flight league and would survive on the last day like they did last year.

With Border Strikers already relegated, the last two teams fighting to stay in the league are Tsholotsho and Mutare City, who played a 2-2 draw against Harare City at Sakubva yesterday.

Yesterday’s results mean that the two have the same number of points – Mutare City in 15th place and Tsholotsho 14th due to a superior goal difference.

“We were affected by complacency today and we did not play our normal game. I am still confident we will survive.

My boys usually raise their game when they play against big clubs. They should play for their life against FC Platinum. We might be affected by resources, but we have got the potential. I know what these boys are capable of,” Sweswe said.

Emmmanuel Mandiranga notched a brace for Bulawayo City after being fed by veteran Mkhokheli Dube on both occasions in the 51st and 76th minutes to move the local authority side to seventh position with 41 points, riding above Ngezi Platinum Stars, who have a game today and Harare City, who were held by Mutare City at Sakubva yesterday.

Maclive Phiri converted from the spot for Tsholotsho in the sixth minute before the final whistle after Nixon Gama was brought down inside the penalty box by Morris Kadzola.

Bulawayo City coach Try Ncube said the win put them in a good position for a top-eight finish before their last game at home against How Mine.

Teams:

Tsholotsho: N Marichi, N Siwela, N Moyo, T Nyabinde, G Magariro, R Mupfudza (N Mundandishe 69’), Z Moyo, B Madanhire (D Chirwa 64’), A Ncube (M Ponyera 46’), N Gama, M Phiri

Bulawayo City: N Sibanda, M Kadzola, Z Sibanda, N Mukumbi, B Chikwenya, K Madzongwe, T Ndlovu (H Ncube 83’), E Mandiranga, S Ndlovu (E Nkulungo 79’), M Dube, M Moyo (I Kutsanzira 71’)