adminhoping for a miracle in the capital on Sunday.
The league’s richest club could have been crowned champions had they beaten Dynamos at home on Sunday.
Even a draw would have been enough for them to effectively win the championship, given that they would only need a draw against Shooting Stars in their last game.
But FC Platinum collapsed under pressure and lost 0-1 to Dynamos, their first league defeat at Mandava, to hand the initiative to the Glamour Boys.
They seem to have thrown in the towel, even though a draw against the Wild Boys, coupled with a Dynamos defeat against Kiglon, will see them being crowned champions.
Alternatively, they could win by a huge score, and hope that Dynamos don’t match that, for them to be crowned champions.
The teams are now tied on 55 points but DeMbare have a better goal difference of +25 compared to FC Platinum’s +21.
FC Platinum secretary Phillimon Muvengwa acknowledged the daunting task they now face and preferred to leave everything in the hands of fate.
“There is no point discussing the game against Shooting Stars. As far as we are concerned the season is over for us. We are only waiting for the last game to be played so that we begin preparing for the next season. As for this season, there is nothing more to talk about,” said Muvengwa.
Besides Ntokozo Tshuma, who is out on suspension, Muvengwa said they were expecting a full squad for the game.
Dynamos assistant coach Tonderai Ndiraya said the Glamour Boys have to seize the opportunity to end their three-year drought with a victory over relegated Kiglon to lift the Castle Lager Premiership title on the last day of the season at Rufaro on Sunday.
Both teams have a chance to win the championship but DeMbare can fancy their chances after climbing top of the table ahead of the last round matches of the season with a morale-boosting away victory over rivals FC Platinum.
“I think the trophy is now ours to lose. I am sure we can finish top of the log table if we perform well and win convincingly on Sunday,” said Ndiraya.
“This is the first time that we got to the top of the table this season and surely we wouldn’t want to miss such a wonderful opportunity at this crucial moment.”
Ndiraya said they will not underrate their Division One-bound opponents in the last match despite Kiglon’s status as one of the demoted sides.
Before their capitulation this season, Kiglon have been a thorn in the flesh for the Glamour Boys.
Statistics actually show that Kiglon have a better head to head record against DeMbare after winning three of their seven meetings since their promotion in 2008.
Dynamos have won twice, with the other two meetings ending in stalemate. Kiglon played a big part when it mattered most in denying the Glamour Boys the title in the last two seasons.
Last year Dynamos had done well to revive their campaign but they lost 1-0 to Kiglon in Week 27 and went on to lose the championship to Motor Action on goal difference.
Kiglon had also dented their chances in the 2009 season when they beat DeMbare 3-2 in Week 28 courtesy of a brace from Osbourne Mukuradare and one from Gift Zvavanhu.
One of the key men at the moment and the acting captain, Cuthbert Malajila, reduced the arrears in that match with two goals either side of the break.
But Kiglon, who have been facing crippling financial challenges in the last two seasons, no longer have that competitive fighting spirit after losing several players, leaving them a severely weakened side.
They come into this match against a backdrop of a morale-sapping 3-0 defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe Saints in their last match, while DeMbare have been on top of their game.
“Of course Kiglon can be tricky customers. Remember we lost to them in our first game of the season and we wouldn’t want to repeat that,” said Ndiraya.
“They are our bogey side and in football you have to respect your opponents because anything can happen if you underrate people.
“But what is important for us to remember is that there is much at stake here and I think our team is in good shape at the moment. Everyone is looking forward to the game and we just need to be at our best. “We want to go out there and make sure that we win convincingly. This means we need to score as many goals as possible so that we are home and dry.
“We do not want a situation where we have to wait for results at Gwanzura to see if we can be the champions.”
The DeMbare camp suffered an injury scare to their top marksman Roderick Mutuma, who picked up a knock in the game against FC Platinum, but Ndiraya sounded upbeat that the Premiership’s leading scorer could to be fit for the game.
Captain George Magariro, who resumed light training this week, was still being monitored.
Kiglon who lost nearly the whole squad of their youthful side during the mid-season transfer window, are now looking a different outfit with players like Bernard Benesi, Last Chibwiro, Michael Mageja and Moore Moyo.
Players on suspension
Charlton Mashumba (Blue Ribbon), Conrad Whitby (Motor Action), Herbert Dick (Chicken Inn), Bekithemba Ndlovu (Highlanders), Gilbert Zulu (Hwange), Timothy Sibanda (Hwange), Kasimero Chimbadzwa (Black Mambas), Washigton Pakamisa (CAPS United), Evans Gwekwerere (CAPS United), James Chitereki (Shooting Stars), Levison Banda (Shooting Stars), Joel Nyama (Zimbabwe Saints), Isaac Pitamuja (Kiglon), Ntokozo Tshuma (FC Platinum), Walter Mukanga (Masvingo), Partson Sinamayi (Masvingo), Jonathan Chitereki (Shabanie Mine) Fixtures Tomorrow Zimbabwe Saints v CAPS United (White City Stadium), Blue Ribbon v Chicken Inn (Gwanzura), Black Mambas v Motor Action (Morris Depot), Shabanie v Highlanders (Maglas), Gunners v Hwange (Larfarge), Monomotapa v Masvingo (Rufaro) Sunday Shooting Stars v FC Platinum (Gwanzura), Dynamos v Kiglon (Rufaro).
Online Reporter