AFTER a weekend hiatus to the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL)business, which was interrupted by the national team’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers participation and the ZNA Charity Shield semi-final matches, action resumes tomorrow afternoon with a number of exciting matches to look forward to.
HENRY MHARA
The Bulawayo derby between Bantu Rovers and Chicken Inn set for Luveve Stadium tomorrow afternoon will kick-off the midweek round of fixtures.
Chicken Inn will be without talisman Danny Phiri, who is part of the Warriors squad expected in the country today from Tanzania.
A win for Bantu Rovers will temporarily take them out of the relegation zone and arrest a three-match losing streak. As for Chicken Inn, they are also looking to bounce back to winning ways after last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat to Hwange. If they can get maximum points in this one, they will move to fifth position on the log table although they will likely tumble again by Wednesday evening.
Five league matches are lined up on Wednesday, but there is no doubt the match of the day will be between league champions Dynamos and FC Platinum at the National Sports Stadium — the second time the two teams are meeting in a space of two months after their clash in the Independence Trophy final on April 18.
Dynamos will go into the match heavily depleted. Midfielders Masimba Mambare and Tawanda Muparati are still out injured and so is striker Clive Kawinga. Defender Sydney Linyama is in a plaster after picking an injury on the first day of Warriors’ training session ahead of the Tanzania trip last week, which was his first call-up for the senior national team.
The Harare giants are also likely to miss defender Victor Kamhuka, who lost his mother earlier last week.
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This might force Dynamos to rush back into the team its members who were away on national duty. Coach Kalisto Pasuwa, George Chigova, Partson Jaure and Stephen Alimenda were all in Dar es Salam.
FC Platinum could welcome back midfield magician Marshall Mudewe, Dynamos’ chief tormentor in the two teams’ last meeting which the visitors won after a penalty shoot-out.
Five matches are lined up on Wednesday with log leaders Hwange away to Chapungu as they look to strengthen their grip at the top of the log table at the expense of a team unbeaten at home this season.
Fifth placed How Mine, the form team of the moment with four straight wins, host an unstable Caps United who are yet to string two wins in a row this season.
This season’s surprise package ZPC Kariba are back on the road again, this time in Kadoma for a date with Black Rhinos. The Kariba-based side are one of the two teams yet to taste defeat this season and are third on the log table with 13 points, one behind the leaders.
Thursday will see two matches being played with Highlanders expected to get maximum points against struggling Harare City who recorded their first win in seven matches last week.
Boardroom squabbles at the Sunshine City Boys threaten to scuttle these signs of recovery with reports suggesting that the club’s executive, led by Leslie Gwindi, has been dissolved. Moses Chunga’s Chiredzi United are in Zvishavane for a match against Shabanie Mine looking for their second win of the season. PSL Fixtures: Tomorrow: Bantu Rovers v Chicken Inn (Luveve) Wednesday: How Mine v Caps United (Luveve), Triangle United v Buffaloes (Gibbo), Chapungu v Hwange (Ascot), Dynamos vs FC Platinum (National Sports), Black Rhinos v ZPC Kariba (Rimuka) Thursday: Shabanie Mine v Chiredzi (Maglas), Highlanders v Harare City (Barbourfields)
