After last week’s break to pave way for the Mbada Diamonds Cup first round matches, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League is set to resume this weekend with some very interesting fixtures to look forward to.
Report by Henry Mhara The top two teams, Highlanders and Dynamos, are both at home and face two teams that will surely test their title credentials.
Table toppers Bosso, who assumed the top position after Hwange appealed Zifa’s Appeals committee’s decision, will face the stiffest of their tests so far when they host Nelson Mazivisa’s Shabanie Mine at Barbourfields on Sunday. Highlanders are on 47 points, one point better than the Harare giants who have a game in hand against the coalminers.
The Bulawayo giants are unbeaten in 21 league matches and will be looking to complete a double on Shabanie Mine, a team they beat 2-0 at Maglas Stadium in the reverse fixture.
With the record-breaking unbeaten run, Bosso could have had one hand on the title now, but they have been undone by the number of draws they have recorded, which has seen them drop 16 points.
Another draw against Shabanie, and a win for Dynamos, their record will certainly count for nothing. Shabanie will no doubt be looking for revenge and in free scoring Mazivisa, they have enough arsenal to break Highlanders’ hearts and inflict the first defeat in all competitions for the Bulawayo giants. Both sides will go into the match buoyed by their weekend results. Bosso needed a last grasp winner against Blue Rangers, while Shabanie Mine beat Hwange to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Mbada Diamonds Cup. Dynamos host Motor Action at Rufaro Stadium in what promises to be a cracker of a match. DeMbare will need to win the match to keep pressure on Highlanders, while a win for the Mighty Bulls will, to some extent, erase the memories of their weekend loss to rejuvenated Caps United in the Mbada Diamonds Cup. Motor Action were just unlucky against Caps United and if Dynamos reproduces the lifeless performance they displayed against Quelaton, then the Mighty Bulls have a good chance. Monomotapa will be looking to weekend hat-trick hero Ronald Chitiyo for inspiration as they continue with their late title charge with a home match against a wounded Hwange at Rufaro on Saturday. Monoz and Shabanie Mine are this season’s Premiership race dark horses and are hoping that the leading two teams drop points. Caps United’s revival will be put to test when they travel to Mandava Stadium on Saturday for a date against high-flying FC Platinum. The Green Machine drew against Buffaloes before scrapping past Hardbody and Motor Action, but on current form Caps will be the first to admit that those were ordinary opposition and FC Platinum will offer a totally different challenge. Fixtures Saturday: Black Mambas v Chicken Inn (Morris Depot), Monomotapa v Hwange (Rufaro), FC Platinum v Caps United (Mandava) Sunday: Hardbody v Gunners (Ascot), Highlanders v Shabanie Mine (Barbourfields), Dynamos v Motor Action (Rufaro), Blue Rangers v Quelaton (Gwanzura), Buffaloes v Harare City (Sakubva)
