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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
PREMIERSHIP clubs are ready to roll following the release of fixtures by the league on Sunday.
Club officials who attended a PSL meeting at the weekend were given a provisional programme with the domestic season kickoff set for the weekend of March 29-30.
The 2014 season looks set to be a blockbuster with clubs having been busy bolstering their sides for the campaign and a lot is expected especially from the country’s traditional giants Caps United, Dynamos and Highlanders.
DeMbare are the defending champions and in the last two seasons they have pipped their bitter rivals Highlanders to the title by a superior goal difference. The question is, will that change this season?
Dynamos had an early start of the year, competing in the Orange Caf Champions League where they bowed out in the first round to AS Vita of Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, losing 1-0 away after a goalless draw in Harare.
The Harare giants begin their title defence with a trip to Bulawayo where they will face How Mine who are having a fairytale run in the Orange Caf Confederation Cup where they have sailed through to the second round of the competition.
In separate interviews yesterday, The Moneybags or Pure Platinum Play as FC Platinum are known said they are ready for action with coach Lloyd Mutasa predicting a “very competitive season.”
He has been busy during the pre-season, working on his combinations having been very active in the transfer market.
FC Platinum brought in Njabulo “Tshiki” Ncube from Highlanders, Tarisai Rukanda (Shabanie Mine), Stephen “Dealer” Sibanda (Buffaloes), national Under-20 duo of Walter Musona and Wisdom Mutasa from Aces Youth Academy but turned out for relegated Motor Action last season.
“At least now we know who we are facing in the opening matches and that gives us time to plan. I am sure that this season will be different and very competitive than last season because almost everyone has been busy beefing up their squads.
“As for us, we have assembled a squad that we believe will compete for the top honours and has the manpower to take us to the promised land which is the league championship. The good thing about our pre-season is that we have been getting goals from all departments and the interesting thing is that the central striker Njabulo Ncube has been scoring in almost all the friendly matches that we have played in. What is important is to continue scoring more than our opponents,” Mutasa said.
He believes that the team that will consistently get positive results will get the championship.
His compatriot across town John Phiri of Shabanie Mine believes their first five matches will be key to their survival.
Shabanie Mine begin with a home match against Triangle followed by a trip to Bulawayo to face Highlanders, host Black Rhinos at Maglas before returning to Bulawayo for a clash against How Mine and take on Bantu Rovers on Week Five at home.
“Now the season has started and the fixture programme rings to everyone that 2014 season is now here. You can feel it, it’s here by just looking at the programme.
“Real men will be separated from boys in the first five matches and we are getting ready for action. We have been working on fitness and endurance now we are rounding up on finishing,” said Phiri.
The Chinda Boys are also hoping to clinch deals with former Monomotapa’s quintet of Godknows Murwira, Melson Meson, Hamilton Masimbuko, Bizeki Zvikomborero and Carlos Messi.
The five will join 10 players, former Highlanders striker Patrick “Mboma” Mpofu, Xolani Ncube, goalkeeper London Zulu from ZPC Hwange, ex-Young Warriors and FC Platinum midfielder Edmore Tsoro, Marvelous Dikinya from New West and Chegutu duo of Simbabrashe Domingo, Ashley Mokoena, Lloyd Ngara and Nyasha Mpofu who spent last season at How Mine and midfielder Ryan Mabhena who Phiri brought to Shabanie Mine.
Coalminers Hwange are keen on having a good start and avoid playing precariously in the murky relegation waters by maximizing on home advantage and try to snatch maximum points if possible on the road.
Nation Dube, Hwange coach bemoaned lack of competitive pre-season matches saying some Premiership clubs had turned down their offer of engaging in friendly games.
They play Buffaloes, ambitious FC Platinum, Triangle, championship aspirants Highlanders and Black Rhinos in their opening five matches.
“It is going to be a tricky season but we will try our best to avoid being in dangerous places. What is important is for us to keep up with the top teams. However, our preparations have been dealt a blow in that we are yet to play a friendly match with teams that we are competing with. And now that the fixtures are out, teams like Highlanders and FC Platinum who we normally have pre-season games might not be comfortable playing us now because we are meeting early in the season.
“I believe that if we have at least a friendly match with a team that we might play later in the season it will give the guys that needed high-tempo shake up. I also want to see how the new guys are fitting against other PSL teams,” Dube said.
The coalminers welcome back Rodwell Chinyengetere who missed last season due to an injury and have added strikers Aleck Marime (Tripple B) and Newman Sianchali formerly with Zimbabwe Saints and Technosphere.
Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas felt that fixtures came late.
“No doubt the fixture release was delayed but we welcome the release of the programme because it gives us some time to plan in terms of travelling arrangements and areas that you will play at. As for the squad we are almost there and I am sure by March 15 (Saturday) we will be having our final 30,” Antipas said.
Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu could not be drawn into commenting as he said he was yet to see the fixtures.
“It is premature for me to comment because I haven’t seen the exact draft of fixtures. We have a meeting later tonight and once I get the fixtures then I might be able to comment.
“On the squad, we are getting there but we will be announcing our final team shortly.”
Bosso sealed deals with Joel Ngodzo, Chan hero Kudakwashe Mahachi, Charles Sibanda, Valentine Ndaba, Felix Chindungwe, Khumbulani Banda, Welcome Ndiweni and Mkhululi Dube during the pre-season.
Bantu Rovers who have been training under the last coach to win the league championship with Highlanders in 2006 Methembe Ndlovu and Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu said they will announce their technical team during the week.
PSL Fixtures
Week 1: How Mine v Dynamos, Hwange v Buffaloes, Caps United v ZPC Kariba, Chapungu v Highlanders, Chicken Inn v Harare City, Chiredzi v FC Platinum, Bantu Rovers v Black Rhinos, Shabanie Mine v Triangle
Week 2: How Mine v Bantu Rovers, Buffaloes v Chicken Inn, FC Platinum v Hwange, Harare City v Caps United, Black Rhinos v Chapungu, Triangle v Chiredzi, Dynamos v ZPC Kariba, Highlanders v Shabanie Mine
Week 3: Chapungu v How Mine, Caps United v Buffaloes, Hwange v Triangle, Chicken Inn v FC Platinum, Chiredzi v Highlanders, Bantu Rovers v Dynamos, ZPC Kariba v Harare City, Shabanie Mine v Black Rhinos
Week 4: How Mine v Shabanie Mine, Buffaloes v ZPC Kariba, Highlanders v Hwange, FC Platinum v Caps United, Bantu Rovers v Chapungu, Triangle v Chicken Inn, Black Rhinos v Chiredzi, Dynamos v Harare City
Week 5: Chiredzi v How Mine, Harare City v Buffaloes, Hwange v Black Rhinos, Triangle v Caps United, Dynamos v Chapungu, Chicken Inn v Highlanders, ZPC Kariba v FC Platinum, Shabanie Mine v Bantu Rovers
Week 6: How Mine v Hwange, Dynamos v Buffaloes, Caps United v Highlanders, Chapungu v Shabanie Mine, Black Rhinos v Chicken Inn, Bantu Rovers v Chiredzi, FC Platinum v Harare City, Triangle v ZPC Kariba
Week 7: Chicken Inn v How Mine, Buffaloes v FC Platinum, Hwange v Bantu Rovers, Caps United v Black Rhinos, Chiredzi v Chapungu, Shabanie Mine v Dynamos, Harare City v Triangle, ZPC Kariba v Highlanders
Week 8: How Mine v Caps United, Triangle v Buffaloes, Chapungu v Hwange, Bantu Rovers v Chicken Inn, Shabanie Mine v Chiredzi, Dynamos v FC Platinum, Highlanders v Harare City, Black Rhinos v ZPC Kariba
Week 9: ZPC Kariba v How Mine, Buffaloes v Highlanders, Hwange v Shabanie Mine, Caps United v Bantu Rovers, Chicken Inn v Chapungu, Chiredzi v Dynamos, Black Rhinos v Harare City, Triangle v FC Platinum
Week 10: How Mine v Harare City, Chiredzi v Hwange, Chapungu v Caps United, Shabanie Mine v Chicken Inn, Dynamos v Triangle, Highlanders v FC Platinum, Black Rhinos v Buffaloes, Bantu Rovers v ZPC Kariba
Week 11: Buffaloes v How Mine, Hwange v Dynamos, Caps United v Shabanie Mine, ZPC Kariba v Chapungu, Chicken Inn v Chiredzi, Harare City v Bantu Rovers, Triangle v Highlanders, FC Platinum v Black Rhinos,
Week 12: How Mine v FC Platinum, Bantu Rovers v Buffaloes, Hwange v Chicken Inn, Chiredzi v Caps United, Chapungu v Harare City, Dynamos v Highlanders, Black Rhinos v Triangle, Shabanie Mine v ZPC Kariba
Week 13: Triangle v How Mine, Buffaloes v Chapungu, Caps United v Hwange, Chicken Inn v Dynamos, ZPC Kariba v Chiredzi, Harare City v Shabanie Mine, Highlanders v Black Rhinos, FC Platinum v Bantu Rovers
Week 14: How Mine v Highlanders, Shabanie Mine v Buffaloes, Chiredzi v Harare City, Chicken Inn v Caps United, Chapungu v FC Platinum, Dynamos v Black Rhinos, Hwange v ZPC Kariba, Bantu Rovers v Triangle
Week 15: Black Rhinos v How Mine, Buffaloes v Chiredzi, Harare City v Hwange, Caps United v Dynamos, Triangle v Chapungu, ZPC Kariba v Chicken Inn, Highlanders v Bantu Rovers, FC Platinum v Shabanie Mine
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter