League Preview
ACTION resumes this weekend in the 2015 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) with the title chasing trio of Chicken Inn, FC Platinum and Dynamos in tricky assignments.
In a delicately poised race that was thrown wide open by reigning champions DeMbare’s one nil dismantling of leaders Chicken Inn in Bulawayo a fortnight ago at Barbourfields Stadium, Harare City have emerged as the unlikely determining factor in the tightly contested battle for supremacy as they will face all the top three teams in the final rounds of action.
On Sunday at Rufaro Stadium, a resurgent City will provide yet another stern test to DeMbare’s bid for an unprecedented fifth consecutive title in an encounter that has all the ingredients for a nail biting affair.
Exactly a week after the two teams booked places in the final of the Chibuku Super Cup in the unfamiliar territory of Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane, Sunday will provide a prologue of the sides’ mental strength after the gruelling Midlands trip.
The ‘Sunshine Boys’ (Harare City) have played with style in the Chibuku Super Cup, smothering opponents with free flowing football that has captured the imagination of its supporters and neutrals alike.
After notching a staggering 13 goals en route to the Chibuku Super Cup final, City will fancy their chances against their seasoned opponents who have a reputation of rising to the occasion, especially when the need arises.
Their hard-fought victory over the ‘Gamecocks’ (Chicken Inn) must surely have shaken their rivals as the race for the coveted top spot enters home stretch.
With six matches remaining and four points behind Chicken Inn, Dynamos will look at the remaining fixtures with keen interest as tough matches await the log leaders Chicken Inn.
Tomorrow Chicken Inn have a date against troubled How Mine whose campaign has gone off rail with some indifferent results in the last month after a promising start.
How Mine have since parted ways with their outspoken gaffer Luke ‘Vahombe’ Masomere and have reportedly offered history-making coach Kalisto Pasuwa a ‘mouthwatering’ deal as they seek to revive their fortunes.
Veteran mentor Sunday ‘Mhofu’ Chidzambwa will seek to bounce back to winning ways after his ZPC Kariba’s morale sapping 4-1 humbling at the hands of Harare City in the Chibuku Super Cup semi-final when they take on CAPS United at Nyamhunga Stadium in Kariba.
Stuttering CAPS are on a high after garnering two wins on the trot with their 3-1 thumping of fading Bulawayo giants Highlanders fresh on their minds.
It is a tricky affair as Mhofu’s side had until last week been showing signs of improvement following his disastrous start to his tenure.
In the final match of tomorrow’s fixtures, FC Platinum will seek to bounce back to winning ways after a shock nil all draw with relegation-threatened Tsholotsho FC derailed their impressive run in the race for the championship.
Tomorrow they take on another relegation candidate with a match against struggling Whawha at Mandava Stadium.
On Sunday, Highlanders, sitting just eight points above the drop zone take on fellow strugglers Dongo Sawmills at ‘Emagumeni’ (Barbourfields Stadium).
It has been a horrible campaign for Bosso as they find themselves in the bottom half of the log.
They will, however, seek to aim to finish in the top four, but just two matches into his reign as Bosso head coach, alarm bells are already ringing for Amini Sima-Phiri.
It must be bitter for former title contenders Triangle in the Lowveld as a run of matches without victory have put highly rated coach Kelvin Kaindu’s job on the line.
A victory against Flame Lily will dispel any lingering doubts on Kaindu’s pedigree.
Fixtures
Saturday October 10 2015
How Mine v Chicken Inn (Luveve), ZPC Kariba v Caps United (Nyamhunga), FC Platinum v Whawha (Mandava), Buffaloes FC v Tsholotsho FC (Sakubva)
Sunday October 11 2015
Triangle United v Flame Lily (Gibbo), Dynamos v Harare City (Rufaro), Highlanders v Dongo Sawmills (Barbourfields), Hwange v Chapungu (Colliery)
Chicken Inn remaining fixtures
49 Points
Week 25: Chicken Inn v How Mine
Week 26: FC Platinum v Chicken Inn
Week 27: Chicken Inn v Whawha
Week 28: Chicken Inn v Tsholotsho
Week 29: Harare City v Chicken Inn
Week 30: Chicken Inn v Flame Lily
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FC Platinum remaining fixtures
45 Points
Week 25: Whawha v FC Platinum
Week 26: FC Platinum v Chicken Inn
Week 27: Harare City v FC Platinum
Week 28: FC Platinum v Flame Lily
Week 29: CAPS United v FC Platinum
Week 30: FC Platinum v Dongo Sawmills
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Dynamos remaining fixtures
45 Points
Week 25: Dynamos v Harare City
Week 26: Flame Lily v Dynamos
Week 27: Dynamos v CAPS United
Week 28: Dongo Sawmills v Dynamos
Week 29: Dynamos v Chapungu
Week 30: Buffaloes v Dynamos
Suspended players for Week 25
1. Jacob Muzokomba (Buffaloes FC)
2. Marvelous Mukumba (Triangle United FC)
3. Simbarashe Gorogodyo (Tsholotsho FC)
4. Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn FC)
5. Steven Alimenda (Dynamos FC)