WITH the season two games away from the midway stage, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) is beginning to take shape, and it’s the traditional giants — Highlanders, Dynamos and Caps United — are beginning to pull away gradually while the bottom four teams look increasingly doomed, particularly Chiredzi FC.
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Highlanders are on top with 24 points, just one ahead of the two Harare giants going into round 14 of the league season.
But this is nothing new. Bosso have been in this situation before in the last two seasons, challenging for the title for the larger portion of the season and then falters when it matters most.
And Dynamos have been a grateful beneficiary of Highlanders’ generosity, or rather lack of mental strength by the Bulawayo-based side, on both occasions.
However, this should provide a lesson and inspiration for the Kelvin Kaindu-coached side who will no doubt want to do more this season.
Despite the hugely disappointing defeat to Dynamos a fortnight ago — their first loss of the season — Highlanders responded well by coming from behind to beat Black Rhinos last week, which was their fourth home win in six matches.
They have not lost a match at Barbourfields this season and this record should offer them a lot of encouragement going forward.
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While it was easy for them last week, things will heat up for them on Sunday when Kuda Musharu’s How Mine arrive at BF.
How Mine have done particularly well so far and are not far away in the title race. They are fifth on the log standings, with 22 points — two points from Highlanders — making them a suitable side to test the log leaders’ pedigree.
Second on the log standings is Dynamos. They are hardly ever away from championship discussions. Much has been made of the defending champions’ poor start to the season, with four defeats already and just 11 goals by their “useless” strikeforce, but a single point is all that separates them from Highlanders.
After a goalless draw to Chicken Inn last week, next up for Dynamos is what appears a winnable fixture against Black Rhinos at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Then there is Caps United. Despite woes in their travels where they have collected just three points from a possible 18 outside Harare, they have found themselves on third position with 22 points, thanks to an incredible home record of five wins from seven matches. The other two have ended in draws.
There is new-found optimism from Caps United fans that surely this could be their year. They have been content in finishing in the top four in the last few seasons, but their form this season suggests a team with a different objective.
In Taurai Mangwiro, they have an experienced coach who seems to get the best out of his players. But their inability to win matches outside the capital could be their biggest undoing and they know they have to improve. They face Chicken Inn on Saturday — a match whose outcome could set the pace for where the Green Machine could finish this season.
But it has not all been about the “Big Three” so far, with Hwange, How Mine and ZPC Kariba also up there in the thick of things.
Hwange and How Mine are tied on fourth with 22 points, one better that ZPC, but whether they will be able to hold on to those positions come November remains to be seen. What cannot be disputed is that the three teams have so far exceeded expectations, particularly debutants ZPC Kariba who are the only side still unbeaten in the league.
There are still plenty of matches to come with Dynamos and Caps United’s back-to-back meeting on week 15 and 16 chiefly to look forward and the Dynamos-Highlanders reverse fixture later in the season slowly turning out to be what it has been in recent times — a title decider.
PSL Week 14 fixtures Today: Hwange v ZPC Kariba (Colliery, SS9) Saturday: Chicken Inn v Caps United (Luveve, SS9), Chiredzi v Harare City (Chishamiso), Chapungu v FC Platinum (Ascot) Sunday: How Mine v Highlanders (Barbourfields, SS9), Shabanie Mine v Buffaloes (Maglas), Dynamos v Black Rhinos (Nationals Sports Stadium). Monday: Bantu Rovers v Triangle United (Luveve)
