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Fungai Muderere
ITa��S not a walk in the park for Kevin Kaindu at How Mine Football Club and frustration is creeping into his skin.
Sitting on position 11 with five wins, seven draws and four losses mid-season is not what the Zambian national was hopping for.
a�?To be frank, the project is not moving. We are stuck. We are picking points at a slow pace,a�? said the former Highlanders and Triangle coach.
He partly blames some sections of his team.
a�?The backline is our weakest department thata��s why we have been very vulnerable,a�? said Kaindu.
The calibre of players he wants cost money. He only hopes that during the mid-season transfer window, with funds allowing, he could hunt for at least two seasoned players.
However, ita��s a different case for free spending Ngezi Platinum under Tonderayi Ndiraya.
a�?We do not need to put ourselves under pressure. We need to make sure that we survive relegation,a�? said Ndiraya adding that they had concluded a deal with ex Dynamosa�� player Kelvin Bulaji.
Ngezi Platinum are now on position seven with 21 points.
Dynamos sits on number four on the log standings after amassing 25 points, five adrift from joint log leaders Highlanders.
With the season on the half way mark, it does not need any caution for one to say it is still game on and Dynamos can bounce back and clinch the title.
However, DeMbare coach Lloyd Mutasa says the destiny of the coveted title is not in their hands.
a�?We are not in the championship race. The destiny is not in our hands. We will wait for Highlanders, Caps United and FC Platinum to falter,a�? said Mutasa.
Interestingly, Highlanders coach Erol Akbay has stoked the flames in the Premiership. He boldly ruled out bitter rivals Dynamos from the championship race, arguing that it will be a three-horse battle involving FC Platinum, CAPS United and his club.
The Dutchman, in his assessment of the first half of the season reckoned that it would be any of the top three teams at the time of the break who have a realistic chance of grabbing the ultimate prize.
a�?I think FC Platinum and CAPS United are the best teams that we have played this year. They really have good teams. Chicken Inn and Triangle also have some good players.
a�?As you know this is my first time coaching in Zimbabwe. So I knew a little about our opponents, but now that we have played them all it could be an advantage for tactical reasons in the second half of the season.
a�?It looks like there will be stiff competition, but the championship race this year could involve CAPS United, FC Platinum and probably us. It would mean we dona��t have to lose too many points in the remaining games,a�? said Akbay.
He believesA� his side is now well geared for the long haul after the Bulawayo giants shot back into pole position into the mid-season break, which started last Sunday.
Bosso beat CAPS United 1-0 at Barbourfields to garner 30 points from 14 games. They have the same number of points as second-placed FC Platinum, but the Bulawayo giants are enjoying a superior goal difference.
CAPS United are third and a point behind, but both Highlanders and FC Platinum have a game in hand.
Akbay said he was anticipating bruising contests when the second half of the season resumes although he feels Bosso will be better prepared in their quest to end a 10-year barren spell.
Highlanders last won the championship in 2006 under the tutelage of Methembe Ndlovu.
Meanwhile, Bosso will take on Harare City in a Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) Charities Soccer Shield final match set for Barbourfields on Sunday.
The winners of the ZNA Charities Shield will walk away $12 000 richer while runners-up are assured of pocketing $8 000.
Bosso beat Chicken Inn in the quarter finals before eliminating FC Platinum in the semi-finals. City accounted for Caps United and ZPC Kariba.
Online Reporter