adminAugustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
IT’S going to be a thrilling Super Sunday this weekend when the Castle Lager Premiership crowns the 2013 champions and the fourth team to join the lower league next season.
In what has been a closely-contested battle, three clubs — Harare City, Dynamos and Highlanders — are gunning for the championship that has gone to the wire, while six teams are in danger of relegation.
The 2013 league champions will be crowned, just a day after a panel of journalists and coaches will have convened in Harare to select the outstanding Soccer Stars of the Year.
As expected, the outcome of the selection process will always be disputed but the league championship winners should be the undisputed kings.
Premier Soccer League chief executive, Kenny Ndebele, said the league was now bracing itself for what should be their biggest round of the season and have pencilled all the eight matches on the same kick-off time on Sunday.
“The league is going to be concluded this weekend and we have fixtured all the games on Sunday for kick-off at 1500 hours.
“Technically, there are three teams competing for the championship while at the other end there are six teams trying to avoid relegation.
“So this makes it exciting and challenging in that the games have to be played at the same time.
“All the matches will be of importance in this final round,” said Ndebele. Harare City are sitting at the top of the table with 53 points and need a victory over CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium to be assured of the coveted trophy.
The Sunshine Boys propelled themselves into firm favourites after they destroyed Highlanders, who could be playing the role of bridesmaids for the second season in a row.
Bosso had the championship literally snatched from their hands after they lost 4-0 at Rufaro on Sunday while defending champions Dynamos’ chances were dented by a 2-2 draw against Chicken Inn.
A draw for Harare City, coupled with defeats or draws to Dynamos and Highlanders, could still hand Bigboy Mawiwi his maiden Premiership championship.
Dynamos can successfully defend their trophy if they beat Black Mambas while Harare City and Highlanders falter.
Highlanders can also win the championship if they beat Shabanie and hope that Harare City and Dynamos do not gain any points.
The relegation battle is also as tense at the other end of the table where six teams — Black Rhinos, Buffaloes, Black Mambas, Hwange, Triangle and Shabanie — have the axe hovering above them. Already Tripple B, Motor Action and Monomotapa have been booted out of the league and now a fourth candidate will be confirmed on the final day of the championship race.
“It’s a tight situation in that we have six clubs facing relegation and they all need to win for survival.
“Some of the clubs are playing teams that need to win and get the championship,” said Ndebele.
Last season only two clubs Dynamos and Highlanders were in the contention of the league title on the final day of the season but the situation is a bit complicated for the PSL this season with three clubs in the mix.
Ndebele said they will consider engaging the services of the Airforce of Zimbabwe helicopter to deliver the trophy to the winners at the right time.
“We do not know where the trophy will end up but I hope we should employ the same logistics we have done on getting the trophy to the winners last year,” said Ndebele.
Last year an AFZ helicopter was hovering between Harare and Gweru before finally landing at Ascot to deliver the Cup to Dynamos who were held by Hardbody.
Highlanders kept the heat on until the final whistle when they beat Blue Rangers at Gwanzura and were hoping that Dynamos would not pick a point at Ascot. The season will be concluded by the Mbada Diamonds Cup final on November 30 at Barbourfields with Bosso playing How Mine.
Sunday
Dynamos v Black Mambas (Rufaro), Triangle v Chicken Inn (Gibbo), Tripple v How Mine (Dulibadzimu), FC Platinum v Buffaloes (Mandava), Monoz v Black Rhinos (Gwanzura), Hwange v Motor Action (Colliery), CAPS United v Harare City (NSS), Highlanders v Shabanie (BF) (all matches kick off at 3pm)
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