THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title race comes to the City of Kings this weekend with log leaders Chicken Inn bracing for defending champions Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow, while FC Platinum return to Bulawayo to face relegation-fighting Tsholotsho at Luveve Stadium.
BY FORTUNE MBELE Chicken Inn will be fighting to extend their lead on top of the log table, while DeMbare will be hoping to win to reduce the gap between them and the top two teams.
FC Platinum will be also aiming to win to pile pressure on Chicken Inn with Tsholotsho also hoping for maximum points to move away from the relegation zone.
The GameCocks lead the pack with 49 points with seven games remaining.
Five points separate the Joey Antipas-coach Chicken Inn and second-placed FC Platinum (44 points) with Dynamos on third position, seven behind the log leaders.
It’s a must-win match for DeMbare, as losing to Chicken Inn will further widen the gap, making the job to land a fifth successive title almost impossible.
Dynamos troop to BF, beaming with confidence after beating FC Platinum in the quarter-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup in a penalty shootout last Sunday, while Chicken Inn fell to Chapungu, also in another penalty lottery.
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Chicken Inn skipper Danny Phiri is confident his side will prevail over Dynamos, whom they clobbered 3-0 at Rufaro Stadium in May, courtesy of an Edmore Chirambadare brace and another goal from in-form August Castle Lager Player of the Month Michelle Katsvairo.
“We must win this one. Our next three games are in fact must-wins. Of all the games that we have played this year, this is going to be one of our toughest games. If we get past Dynamos on Sunday, beat How Mine in the Bulawayo derby and FC Platinum, then the title is for us to lose. These three games are the most crucial for us.”
Missing right-back Passmore Bernard due to suspension, the GameCocks welcome back central defender Lawrence Mhlanga, who had been on national duty with the Young Warriors in Congo-Brazzaville.
Also in camp are Tafadzwa Kutinyu, George Majika, Clemence Matawu and Ismael Lawe.
After yesterday’s morning training session, Dynamos captain Stephen Alimenda said: “Every game is a new one. We will just work hard and see what will come out at the end of the day.”
The defending champions make the long trip to Bulawayo with the likes of Takesure Chinyama, Roderick Mutuma, Ronald Chitiyo, Walter Mukanga, Obey Mwerahari, Alimenda, Masimba Mambare and Ocean Mushure.
But the team to watch is the Norman Mapeza-coached FC Platinum, who have gone 14 games unbeaten in the league and they return to Bulawayo where they hammered How Mine 3-0 a fortnight ago.
FC Platinum have in their ranks, Brian Muzondiwa, Obrey Chirwa, Winstone Mhango, Marshall Mudewe, Gerald Takwara, twins Kelvin and Elvis Moyo and captain, goalkeeper Petros Mhari. It will not be easy for FC Platinum as Tsholotsho are still hopeful of surviving the chop, sitting on position 13 with 21 points.
As they grapple with relegation woes, Tsholotsho brought in experienced players Joel Luphahla, Siza Khoza and Danisa Phiri in the mid-season and at the beginning of the week also roped in former Highlanders head coach Bongani Mafu to assist Lizwe Sweswe.
