HIGHLANDERS will have to wait for another season to pursue the premiership title after the Bulawayo side surrendered the race in a 0-4 hammering by CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium last Sunday.
It was a bloody Sunday as the Highlanders warriors were beaten all systems out. The battle formation proved costly, a series of changes in formation did not serve the team well.
The result meant Highlanders remained on 39 points trailing log leaders with 10 points. The race for the premiership is now a three-horse race.
Going into the game with Mark Mathe in charge as caretaker coach, Highlanders made numerous positional changes. Centre backs Dumisani Ndlovu and Innocent Mapuranga were not playing their usual roles. Ndlovu was in the right back while Mapuranga played in the midfield.
Captain Erick Mudzingwa and Felix Chindungwe were holding fort in the rear guard that conceded two goals in the first 10 minutes of the game.
Mudzingwa usually plays right back position. Bruce Kangwa was playing his usual left back position while Njabulo Nyoni was the favourite goalie ahead of Ariel Sibanda and Munyaradzi Diya. The changes made by Mathe who replaced Kelvin Kaindu backfired.
With pace, the ageing Bosso rear guard could not match the CAPS United arsenal. In two games the Bulawayo giants have conceded seven goals.
The long ball and counter attack raids employed by Taurai Mangwiro paid dividends as the visitors defence was weak, slow to react and second to the ball. Age, it appears, is now taking its toll on the defenders.
The 4-0 victory left CAPS United on third position with 45 points, four off Dynamos on top of the log. Mangwiro was under fire from a section of the fans who are not amused by the performance of the team. However, he silenced those critics with the resurgence at CAPS United.
The title hopes have been revived for the Green Machine who were last capped champions in 2005. Dynamos and debutants ZPC Kariba stand in CAPS United’s way.
ZPC Kariba’s title chase continued with a 1-0 win over One Wallet Cup champions, Triangle. A solitary goal by Pride Tafirenyika was all the Kariba-based outfit needed to collect maximum points to keep chase of the log leaders. They are now on 47 points, two behind Dynamos. The power utility side will clash in Week 29 with Dynamos in a title decider match.
Dynamos also edged Moses Chunga’s Buffaloes at Sakubva Stadium through Washington Pakamisa’s eighth minute strike. The victory was all Dynamos needed to continue their title defence. Dynamos under Kalisto Pasuwa are on the brink of making history by winning the fourth title under one coach.
Highlanders managed to win four league titles in a row but under different coaches.
With a two point cushion at the top of the log, at this crucial stage, the Glamour Boys appear unstoppable.
At the bottom of the log, the battle for survival continued last weekend. Chiredzi FC will be playing in the Eastern Region Division One Soccer League while all odds are against Bantu Rovers. So far Chiredzi are confirmed relegation candidate.
With 21 points the Methembe Ndlovu owned Bantu Rovers might be playing their last four games in the top flight.
The great escape script continues for Black Rhinos this season after surviving relegation by a whisker last year. The army side survived the chop on the last day of the season. The 1984 league champions are singing the same song as relegation worries mount.
They are occupying 14th position with 27 points. They have an equal number of points with Triangle but separated by goal difference. Chapungu are on 29 points together with Shabanie Mine but relegation worries are not over as Black Rhinos and Triangle may catch up with them.
The fight continues next weekend after a break to accommodate Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals.
Next weekend’s fixtures
How Mine vs Chiredzi, Buffaloes vs Harare City, Black Rhinos vs Hwange, Triangle vs Caps United, Dynamos vs Chapungu, Highlanders vs Chicken Inn, FC Platinum vs ZPC Kariba, Bantu Rovers vs Shabanie Mine