THE 2015 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) season finally kicks off this afternoon as Harare City and newboys Tsholotsho Football Club do battle in the opener at Rufaro Stadium, marking the start of the marathon and exciting year. BY WELLINGTON TONI/ SAKHELENI NXUMALO
The game will be screened live on SuperSport.
This means, the Matabeleland North folk, in particular the Tsholotsho fans, will see their team in action from the rural district, 553km away from Rufaro, in the comfort of their homes.
It has taken four months for clubs to get ready for the latest attempt at the Holy Grail — ruled by Dynamos in the last four seasons. Coaches have changed teams, players have moved towns and expectations of a competitive season from PSL boss Kennedy Ndebele are high.
More importantly, for clubs though is to produce entertaining and quality football where players are not found wanting in the basics of the game, especially ball control. Some teams even struggle to string together four or five passes, which becomes an eyesore for games that are televised across the world.
Tomorrow, FC Platinum hosts newly-promoted Dongo Sawmills at Mandava in a game Norman Mapeza’s men must win to gain some confidence ahead of next Saturday’s Caf Confederation Cup first round, second leg match against Tanzanians Young Africans.
That Platinum have talent at their disposal, but the issue is if they can rise from last week’s 5-1 loss to Young Africans to set the pace for the season. Chicken Inn will be at home to Flame Lily, another new side in the PSL at the refurbished Luveve Stadium. \ Last season’s runners-up ZPC Kariba host Highlanders at their adopted home at Gwanzura, while defending champions Dynamos have what look likes the easiest of the starts as they take on coachless Buffaloes at the National Sports Stadium.
On Sunday, star-studded How Mine play host to Chapungu at Luveve without two of their new signings, Tawanda Muparati and Limited Chikafa, in addition to Gilbert Banda, Nyasha Mukumbi and Heritein Masuku.
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Kelvin Kaindu starts life on the bench as Triangle head coach when his side hosts Hwange at Gibbo, while Whawha get a taste of Premiership action against Caps United.
Caps have brought in Englishman Mark Harrison as head coach, but the simmering problems between the club and their new sponsors Zing could spoil their start to the season.
The deal is understood to be on the rocks with the sponsors crying foul over mismanagement issues, something which they seem to have foreseen when they appointed their own man as general manager while the club retained its chief executive officer. That aside, the Green Machine, who finished in third place last season, will be looking for a solid start to the campaign.
Meanwhile, Harare City coach Taurai Mangwiro has described PSL newcomers Tsholotsho as an unknown quantity that his charges should not take lightly when the two teams meet in the Premiership opener at Rufaro Stadium this afternoon.
The former Caps United and Monomotapa coach, however, said the fact that they knew virtually nothing about the top-flight newcomers could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
“Our preparations for the encounter have gone very well and all we have to do is to wait for the game so that we put into practise what we have been practising.
“We will be squaring up against an unknown quantity and, therefore, will have to dwell on what we can do and not what we know about them (Tsholotsho),” Mangwiro said.
The City Fathers will be without injured goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupangedengu as well as the pair of Munyaradzi Diro Nyenye and Tinotenda Kadewere who are in the Young Warriors squad that will face Cameroon on Sunday.
Nyamupangedengu recently underwent a knee operation and in his absence the experienced Tafadzwa Dube is expected to do duty between the goal posts.
When asked whether featuring in the season’s opener came with any pressure Mangwiro said his charges were actually eager to get the season underway. “We do not feel any pressure at all. Actually we have been waiting eagerly for the games to begin.
“We just have to guard against complacency and should not underrate the opposition,” Mangwiro said.
Tsholotsho coach Lizwe Sweswe said his boys were excited about playing in the top-flight.
“It will not be easy playing our first game in the top-flight as the season opener but the boys are raring to go.
“They believe their chance has finally arrived so it is up to them to deliver and we do carry an element of surprise as newcomers,” Sweswe said.
Iziqholo zeZhwane have a clean bill of health and some of their players that are expected to shine this afternoon include holding midfielder Butholezwe Ncube, former youth internationals Mncedisi Gumede and Kudzanai Machazane, as well as Ocient Ncube and Lynoth Chikuhwa.
FULL FIXTURES Today: Harare City v Tsholotsho FC (Rufaro) Tomorrow: FC Platinum v Dongo Sawmills (Mandava), Chicken Inn v Flame Lily (Luveve), Dynamos v Buffaloes (NSS), ZPC Kariba v Highlanders (Gwanzura) Sunday: Triangle United v Hwange (Gibbo), How Mine v Chapungu (Luveve), Whawha FC v Caps United (Ascot)
