CHAPUNGU coach John Nyikadzino says the airmen are safe from relegation even if they are to lose to Highlanders in their last league match at Hartsfield Rugby Grounds on Sunday. FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER
Nyikadzino yesterday said judging by the statistics at hand, the relegation permutations favoured the Midlands side who sit on position nine on the log table with 37 points, tied with 10th-placed Triangle, but on top by a superior goal difference.
Chiredzi and Bantu Rovers have already been booted out of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL), while Black Rhinos on position 14 could get to 37 points if they beat Tshintsha Guluva at Rimuka.
But the soldiers will have to score more than 12 goals against Bantu Rovers and not concede in the event Chapungu fall to Highlanders, which rather looks like an insurmountable task. The army side are on the brink of returning to Division 1.
“Let’s be realistic, people just want to create unnecessary pressure,” Nyikadzino said.
“We are out of the relegation equation. What people can talk about is what is happening at the top. We have survived. We are just looking at our game against Highlanders and not worried about the other teams.”
Chapungu have plus two on goal difference, having scored 30 goals and conceded 28 while Triangle are on minus three with 35 goals and have let in 38.
Triangle, who brought in former Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu as technical advisor to steer them out of the relegation woes have home advantage at Gibbo Stadium against Shabanie Mine who sit precariously on position 13 with 35 points and a defeat in the Lowveld, demotes them to Division 1.
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Triangle have been accused of paying their way to stay in the top-flight with Hwange and Chiredzi crying foul in recent weeks over poor match officiating and dubious penalties awarded to the team — an accusation which the team has vehemently denied.
Moses Chunga’s Buffaloes are home at Sakubva Stadium against Hwange and need nothing short of a win to steer clear as they sit on position 11 with 36 points.
A defeat or draw will not do them any good if Shabanie Mine and Harare City, also on 35 points, register wins at the weekend.
City, coached by Masimba Dinyero, who suffered a morale-sapping 1-3 defeat to FC Platinum in a penalty shoot-out in the final of the Chibuku Super Cup at Mandava Stadium on Sunday, have a tough hurdle against in-form Chicken Inn in Harare.
After losing to FC Platinum on Sunday, Dinyero said they would recover in time to face Chicken Inn and they would survive relegation.
All the last eight matches in the 2015 PSL programme will be played on Sunday with either log leaders ZPC Kariba or Dynamos being crowned champions.
ZPC Kariba take on Caps United at Gwanzura Stadium in the only match that will be screened on SuperSport, while Dynamos, eyeing a possible fourth consecutive league title, host How Mine at the National Sports Stadium.
