Nine PSL clubs fight the chop

Sport
AS the PSL enters week 27 at the weekend, nine clubs would be fighting relegation from top-flight football to Division One.

AS THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) enters week 27 at the weekend, nine clubs would be fighting relegation from top-flight football with 2010 champions Motor Action and new boys Tripple B already heading for Division One.

Sports Reporter

Two other top league teams await the fate of demotion to the lower league to make way for Bulawayo Chiefs (Southern Region), Chapungu (Central), Hippo Valley (Eastern) and from the Northern Region, ZPC Kariba, who are on the verge of clinching the Division One title to take the PSL to Mashonaland West.

Champions Dynamos and Harare City are at par on 48 points with Highlanders a point behind and FC Platinum on 45. The three are the title contenders in this year’s most competitive league in years with Caps United on 42 points awaiting any slip-up at the top.

Statistically sixth-placed Triangle, have been in top form of late and have amassed 38 points.

Chicken Inn, at one time title contenders, Hwange who have shot up to the top eight, Buffaloes, and giant slayers How Mine on position nine with 35, points, are not safe from the chop and the league is headed for interesting times as it nears the end.

Precariously-positioned are Monomotapa perched third from the bottom of the log table with 26 points.

The 2008 league champions can still reach Triangle’s 38 points mark if they win their remaining matches starting this weekend when they take on Black Mambas at Morris Depot on Saturday.

After that game, the Biggie Zuze-coached Monoz will host How Mine before travelling to Mutare for Buffaloes before finishing off the season with a home match against Black Rhinos.

Rhinos, on 30 points could end the season on 42 points albeit having an insurmountable task against Harare City on their favourite hunting ground at Rimuka Stadium on Sunday.

Arthur Tutani’s army side will have to beat the Sunshine City Boys and engage in another daunting task away to Caps United before hosting Hwange and hitting the road for equally-troubled Monomotapa.

Mambas are just two points away from Rhinos and will date Monoz on Saturday before travelling to Mandava for title-chasing FC Platinum with their last two encounters against already-down Tripple B and an away match to log leaders Dynamos.

Luke “Vahombe” Masomere’s Shabanie Mine are just a point above Mambas and will host Tripple B at Maglas on Saturday, a game they must win at all costs before three tough last matches — stalking DeMbare in Harare, taking on Gishon Ntini’s Triangle and travelling to Bulawayo for Highlanders at BF.

Chicken Inn, now under the tutelage of Joey Antipas, are on 37 points with a tough one against Platinum on Sunday before taking on Tripple B, Dynamos and Triangle. Ntini’s Triangle host DeMbare at Gibbo on Sunday before Bosso, Shabanie and Chicken Inn.

Week 27 Fixtures

Saturday: How Mine v Hwange (Luveve), Black Mambas v Monomotapa (Morris Depot), Shabanie Mine v Tripple B (Maglas) Sunday: Triangle v Dynamos (Gibbo), Chicken Inn v FC Platinum (Luveve), Black Rhinos v Harare City (Rimuka), Motor Action v Highlanders (Rufaro), Buffaloes v Caps United (Sakubva)