daniel chigunwe
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season comes to an end this weekend with the most exciting programme set for tomorrow when relegation will be finalised while the two academic fixtures complete the final matchday on Sunday.
All eyes will be at Sakubva and Wadzanai where the remaining two teams to be relegated will be confirmed.
Bulawayo Chiefs are at Manica Diamonds while Bikita Minerals will host Hwange in Shamva and it’s a winner-take-all scenario.
Rodwell Dhlakama and his Hwange troops are the team in form and are hoping to stage a miraculous escape while Bikita Minerals are desperate to avoid the chop having been in the league for just one season.
Already, two other newcomers Arenel Movers and Chegutu Pirates are out after just one season in the topflight.
Simba Bhora were rewarded for their consistency, especially at their Wadzanai Stadium, and clinched the league title with two more matches remaining.
They will be crowned at Nyamhunga in Kariba tomorrow afternoon and were somewhat demoralised a fortnight ago when they lost their final home match of the season against runners-up, FC Platinum.
Not only did FC Platinum become the first and only team to win at Wadzanai, they were also the only team to complete a double over Simba Bhora.
But those mishaps will be minor when Simba Bhora look at the bigger picture and start preparing for the CAF Champions League where big money is in store if they manage to reach the group stage.
Simba Bhora thrived where the pre-season favourites, based on their squads and ambition, like Highlanders, Dynamos, CAPS United, Manica Diamonds, FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum failed.
That the league championship went out of the major cities Harare and Bulawayo is a good thing for the game in Zimbabwe as was the case when FC Platinum took it to Zvishavane and Ngezi Platinum made Mashonaland West proud last season.
On the other hand, the continued dominance by teams from out of Harare has seemingly killed interest in the Premiership in the capital, especially the last half of the season when it gets clear where the title is headed.
The Harare heavyweights, Dynamos and CAPS United, have struggled to fill up Rufaro which they used to do in their dominant years. Suddenly they attract, more or less, the same number of spectators as Division One outfits like Scottland and MWOS.
The diminishing numbers of spectators in Harare is a serious cause of concern and the two flag bearers, Dynamos and CAPS United, have to do something to save their own institutions and also the game in the capital.
They have to be competitive to attract spectators and sponsors and, hopefully, they will use lessons from this season to plan properly for the coming season.
Dynamos and CAPS United have to learn or perish!
Online Reporter