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Zimbabwe premiership action resumes

Sport
THE race for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League is getting fascinating with every passing week

THE race for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League is getting fascinating with every passing week.

REPORT BY HENRY MHARA

With just six games left to play before the season ends, log leaders Highlanders, Dynamos, FC Platinum and Harare City are the leading teams vying for the title.

One cannot count out the threat of fifth-placed Caps United, but it is the top four sides that look to have a more realistic chance.

Highlanders are top of the log after their emphatic 4-1 win over Tripple B at Barbourfields on Wednesday, and suddenly, they are looking firm favourites to win the title. The Kelvin Kaindu-coached side are on 44 points, and while their supporters are still revelling in their team’s Wednesday success, Bosso will come under a severe test when they travel to Rimuka Stadium to meet Black Rhinos tomorrow.

Black Rhinos are unbeaten at their stadium this season and of even more concern for Highlanders is that the army side is yet to concede a goal since adopting this Kadoma stadium in July.

Kaindu is pretty aware that his team cannot afford to blink at this critical stage of the season as failing to secure maximum points might see Highlanders drop to fourth position by the end of weekend fixtures.

It is against this background that Bosso have no option, but to break records at Rimuka. The hosts will miss the services of midfielder Jameson Mukombwe through suspension.

Defending champions Dynamos have lost form at the wrong stage of the season. The 2-0 loss to FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium on Wednesday all, but confirmed the deteriorating state of things at the Harare giants.

Before that defeat, which came high on the back of poor results against Hwange, Monomotapa and How Mine, the Harare giants had not lost a match at Mandava Stadium. Alarm bells are already ringing loud in the Dynamos camp with a section of the supporters demanding the resignation of coach Kalisto Pasuwa.

They want ex-assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya to be reinstated while former coaches Sunday Chidzambwa and Keegan Mumba are tipped to succeed Pasuwa. The Dynamos executive this week came out in the public to defend their coach, saying that they would not fire him just yet, but another disappointing result against relegation-threatened Tripple B at Rufaro tomorrow afternoon will not only further damage Pasuwa’s reputation, but will be even more detrimental to the team’s hopes of retaining the title.

FC Platinum and Harare City, tied on 42 points, are both on the road this weekend as they travel to Triangle and How Mine respectively, knowing very well that they need maximum points to keep pace with the leading two.

Platinum travel to the Lowveld depleted with two of their regulars Thabani Kamusoko and Winstone Mhango sidelined by suspension.

Caps United’s win over Chicken Inn on Wednesday saw them closing the gap on the log leaders to five points, and with 18 points still to fight for, they still have a good chance.

They will need to beat Black Mambas tomorrow to remain in contention, but will have to do that without suspended midfielder Tendai Samanja, who has been one of their best players this season.

While the pressure is boiling at the top, the heat is also as intense at the bottom. Motor Action, on 17 points, will need a modern-day miracle to survive while Monomotapa, Black Rhinos and Tripple B are all trapped in the danger zone.