Harare City shines

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League leaders Harare City are still moderate about their championship chances despite having opened a three-point gap at the top of the standings. The Harare side, chaired by fireband administrator Leslie Gwindi and under the tutelage of Bigboy Mawiwi, lead traditional giants Highlanders, Dynamos and Caps United and against a backdrop of average players and little if any, followers, all credit should go to the gaffer.

The gaffer however remains moderate and says it’s still too early to talk about the championship as any of the top six sides is still in the running.
Over the weekend, they collected three points at the expense of the expensively assembled Zvishavane side FC Platinum with a 1-0 win that saw them opening a six-point lead at the top, albeit for 24 hours only as Highlanders, who had failed to register a win in four league matches chalked up a 1-0 win over Hwange thanks to a 66th minute goal from Heritein Masuku.

“Naturally we are happy with our performance so far and the results that have come our way, we however want to remain focused and level headed,” said Mawiwi.

He said they will concentrate on their games and worry little about the performance of other teams as they count down to the season finale.
“As for the championship chances, it’s still very early as any of the top six sides, Highlanders, Dynamos, Caps United, Chicken Inn and FC Platinum are still very much in it,” he said.

Mawiwi hailed the unity of purpose in his camp from the executive right up to the dressing room.
“We are where we are because of unity of purpose in our family,” said the coach who has two players in the national team in Silas Songani and former St Bernard’s High School student Max Nyamupanedengu.

Harare City have lost only three times in their 18 games including a 4-1 shock drubbing by troubled Hwange at the Colliery Stadium, a result that might come back to haunt them in the title race.

Bulawayo giants Highlanders finally remembered how to win after going through 360 minutes of miserable football where they failed to register a win and head coach Kelvin Kaindu was clearly a relieved man after 90 minutes on Sunday.

“It’s good we have managed to collect maximum points and it’s ironic that our last win was against the same side,” said Kaindu.
Former Gwanda Ramblers player Douglas Sibanda rose from the bench and changed the complexion of the game with telling passes although he needs to work on his ball control. He also needs to be composed as he seemed to hurry his passes.

Hwange coach Nation Dube still refused to throw in the towel and firmly believes relegation is alien in their camp.
“I am disappointed with the result yes but performance wise I am proud of my boys, they played quite well and it’s unfortunate we gave away the game. As for relegation, it’s out of our mind, we will avoid it certainly,” said Dube.

The black and white army are still very much in the race for their first league title in seven years but what should be of worry to the Peter Dube led executive is the dwindling crowds at Barbourfields Stadium, largely due to the $5 minimum gate charge and poor performances.

At this stage, the boys need to play in front of a packed stadium so that opponents are intimidated but with nearly empty stands, that will be hard.
Dynamos earned their eighth draw on the road with a 0-0 draw to lowly Black Rhinos at Rimuka Stadium on Sunday and now find themselves five points behind Harare City whom they meet in the next two weeks.

Coach Callisto Pasuwa is a worried man on his side’s poor away record.
“We have to change the mindset and start getting positive results in these away games,” said Pasuwa.
As Pasuwa frets on the poor away form, his fierce city rival Caps United marched on, recording their eighth game without a loss and are now very much in the race for the big one.

Makepekepe dismissed Monomotapa 2-1 at the National Sports Stadium. The project which Twine Phiri started at the beginning of the season is now starting to bear fruit, despite having rookies save for the likes of Hardlife Zvirekwi, Rahman Kutsanzira and goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube.