Are Dynamos choking at the final stretch?

Mehluli Sibanda , Senior Sports Reporter
DEFENDING Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Dynamos’ chances of retaining the title they have won for four consecutive years have diminished after they were held to a goalless draw by Harare City at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.

With log leaders Chicken Inn and second placed FC Platinum victories on Saturday, Dynamos had to win their encounter against Harare City the next day to stay firmly in the race. The Glamour Boys however, could not record that all important win over a team they are due to meet in the Chibuku Super Cup final at the end of this month. DeMbare, in third place are behind second placed FC Platinum by two points and trail top of the log Chicken Inn by a further six points.

On Saturday, Chicken Inn recovered from their 1-0 defeat to Dynamos with a hard earned 2-1 triumph over fellow Bulawayo side How Mine. Playing away at familiar ground Luveve Stadium, the Gamecocks left it till late to beat Chikurupati who led for the better part of the match through a first half goal scored by Thembani Masuku.

How Mine had defender Morris Kadzola sent off for a second punishable offence with five minutes to go for pulling down substitute Toto Banda. That triggered the Chicken Inn comeback as Edmore Chirambadare struck from the resultant free kick to tale his goal tally to 11, the same number as Highlanders striker Knox Mutizwa. The fight back was completed two minutes into injury time, Banda proving to be truly a super sub with a free header to secure the three points for Chicken Inn.

Dynamos fans had come out in their numbers at Luveve with their support clearly for How Mine as a Chicken Inn loss would have meant that their team could close the gap the next day.

A brace from Zambian Obrey Chirwa and another goal from Elvis Moyo gave FC Platinum a 3-0 triumph over Whawha at Mandava.

Chicken Inn and FC Platinum meet in Bulawayo in the next round of matches in a match that should act as a title decider.

At the other end of the table, Highlanders made a return to what is now their familiar number 10 position on the log with a 2-0 victory over Dongo Sawmill on Sunday. Obadiah Tarumbwa and Rahman Kutsanzira were the goal scorers on a day their leading striker Mutizwa missed a perfect opportunity to steer clear of Chirambadare. Mutizwa and Chirambadare are both on 11 goals and had the Highlanders man found the target from the spot after upended inside the box, he could be clear of his Chicken Inn counterpart in the race for the Golden Boot which carries prize money of $4000.

Highlanders had on Saturday dropped down to 11th place following ZPC Kariba’s 2-1 win over Caps United but Bosso made a quick return to the spot they have occupied for the better part of the second half of the season.

Tsholotsho recorded their 11th draw of the season with a 1-1 stalemate away to Buffaloes which raises hope that Iziqholo Ze Zhwane could prolong their stay at the top to next season.

Former Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu continued to sing the blues with an embarrassing 3-0 home loss to third from bottom Flame Lily while Hwange made sure of their middle of the table position with a 1-0 victory over Chapungu.

Castle Lager Premier Soccer League week 25 full results
Saturday: How Mine 1 Chicken Inn 2, ZPC Kariba 2 Caps United 1, FC Platinum 3 Whawha 0, Buffaloes 1 Tsholotsho 1
Sunday: Triangle 0 Flame Lily 3, Dynamos 0 Harare City 0, Highlanders 2 Dongo Sawmill 0, Hwange 1 Chapungu 0