By Sheldon Hakata

THE battle for top honours and relegation has reached fever pitch in the 2019 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, with teams bracing up for a bruising season finale.

With only nine matches left before the season draws to an end, the top flight teams both at the top and bottom half of the log table, cannot afford any more slip-ups at this stage.

But it is at the top of the log where there is the most exciting action.

In what is arguably one of the most unpredictable title races, where games are won on small margins, the see-saw affair at the top of the log has brought excitement to a league that has lost the lure and lustre of yesteryear.

While the prevailing economic challenges in the country have threatened to derail what has been an otherwise average season in terms of quality of play, the league has, nevertheless, produced occasional flashes of brilliance. 

Company-owned teams, like FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum and Chicken Inn, to mention but a few, have managed to weather the economic crunch.

However, life in the top flight league, for minnows, has not been a straight forward fairy-tale that was last seen during the days of the trailblazing Blackpool FC in 1995 or the brilliant Shabanie Mine FC at the turn of the millennium.

Four teams are vying for the coveted title.

CAPS United, Chicken Inn, FC Platinum and ZPC Kariba have spent the whole season exchanging the top spot in their bid to claim the biggest club prize in the land.

The Premiership’s big boys exchanged the pole position on countless times, temporarily occupying the summit of the log table as well as being elbowed off before hot favourites Caps United took a five point lead.

CAPS United coach Darlington Dodo, who deputised Lloyd Chitembwe before eventually settling for the coaching job, has resurrected himself with his graph sky-rocketing at the green and white machine after initial deafening murmurs of disapproval to his appointment.

Chitembwe’s sudden departure elevated Dodo to establish himself in the CAPS United dressing room. 

It is turning out to be an inspired move and CAPS United look capable of challenging for the title this season.

Can Dodo write a piece of history for himself with the club?

The Green Machine have managed to overcome a number of hurdles under Dodo and opened a five-point gap at the summit of the log table, collecting a total of 47 points from 25 matches — winning four games, drawing once and a single defeat.

For now, CAPS United are favourites as they are sitting at the top.

Other teams now have to play catch-up.

Most of CAPS United’s rivals in the championship race — Chicken Inn, FC Platinum, ZPC Kariba and Black Rhinos — have all been dropping points with reckless abandon. 

Chicken Inn and FC Platinum are sitting on 42 points, second and third respectively.

Elsewhere, Katuruturu, as ZPC Kariba are affectionately known, utilised better squad depth effectively during the closing stages of the first-half and by the end of mid-season, they comfortably sat at the top of the table.

However, the Kariba-based side went on the back foot, eventually surrendering title hopes into the hands of leaders, CAPS United; apparently there is no more power in Kariba.

The duo of Chicken Inn and champions FC Platinum are still hot contestants, though.

Playing ZPC Kariba is a battle against a side still showing strong signs of having a hand in the race in the PSL race this season.

The electricians should take a leaf from the lessons learnt in one of the most epic battles in the league of the 2013 season.

This is the second time ZPC Kariba have achieved this feat after the Saul Chaminuka-coached outfit narrowly missed it on the last day of the league to Dynamos.

ZPC Kariba are sitting on position four, with 41 points from 25 matches.

Hopefully, the remaining league matches might prove if the top table teams’ coaches have what it takes to wrestle the title from FC Platinum this season.

The Zvishavane-based side were dealt a big blow with the surprise departure of coach Norman Mapeza who signed for South African side Chippa United. 

Champions FC Platinum started the season as favourites to defend the title.

FC Platinum interim coach Lizwe Sweswe’s men have already dropped points in the title race against league novices.

This has left them with a lot of work in the league title race.

But the chase is still on for the Zvishavane-based platinum miners.

On another note, the Gamecocks could not keep pressure on log leaders CAPS United following 1-all stalemate with Chapungu.

This result came at the back of two-nil loss in the league to Bulawayo giants Highlanders.

Antipas’ men have, of late, been posting inconsistent results, making their dream to reclaim the title fall in tatters.  

Across town, new technical manager Hendrikus Pieter de Jongh is assured of someone who can unlock any defence in any situation. 

Prince Dube, the player Highlanders repossessed to lessen the impact on the league fight, has re-ignited his goal-scoring prowess after a dry spell in the first half of the 2019 Castle Lager soccer season. 

Dube has continued to do better for the club, always at the forefront of every Highlanders attack. 

Most of the shots that leave his left or right foot have been turned into goals.

Harare City are struggling, even after investing in new players and a new coach, Lloyd Chitembwe.

The move to hire Chitembwe from CAPS United was greeted with pomp and fanfare by Harare City fans. However, the coach seems to be fighting to save both his job and club.

Chitembwe has collected a paltry six points from a possible 18 since taking charge of Harare and lost all the last four games.

The 3-1 defeat to Triangle at Gibbo Stadium on Sunday saw them languishing fourth from the bottom, an incredible 22 points behind log leaders, CAPS United, after just 25 matches, with nine remaining.

The Sunshine Boys are enduring the worst in the relegation zone, with 25 points from 25 matches, firing 22 goals against 30.

However, the race has become increasingly tough to tell at the bottom where relegation dogfights have really intensified.

Bottom-placed Yadah and Bulawayo Chiefs have proved no pushovers. 

They have been posting positive results at this stage of the competition.

Yadah upstaged Ngezi Platinum Stars in the last recent league encounter.

Ngezi Platinum Stars failed to reduce the gap on log leaders CAPS United after their 1-0 loss to Yadah FC.

Other bottom teams sharing the same number of points with Harare City include Herentals and Bulawayo Chiefs, while Yadah have 24 points from 25 matches.