Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, [email protected]
THIS coming weekend, Harare giants Dynamos and CAPS United, though out of the title race, are poised to impact the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’s title matrix.
The shift in power dynamics, favouring teams funded by miners or mining companies, is evident with the fact that the two teams are not in the running for the league title.
With just four games left to the season end, Match Day 31 is set to produce some exciting match ups particularly for the two top teams in the league.
Simba Bhora who are top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League with 60 points will face CAPS United at Wadzanayi Stadium on Saturday while second-placed FC Platinum who are six points behind the leaders will visit the capital for a date with Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium.
The two matches are most likely to have a bearing on how the title run-in shapes up after the weekend.
CAPS United who will be visiting Simba Bhora’s fortress will be praying for a miracle as they seek to become the first team to beat Simba Bhora at Wadzanayi.
Simba Bhora have not lost at Wadzanayi since the stadium was given the greenlight to stage Premiership matches by Sharif Mussa’s Zifa First Instance Board before the start of this season.
Therefore, if Simba Bhora are to win the title this season, it will be down to their conquering home form and the wholesale signings they made at the start of the season when they shook the market with 11 new additions.
The players signed at the beginning of the season included the former FC Platinum duo of Walter Musona and Perfect Chikwende, Taimon Mvula and Junior Makunike (both from Dynamos), Wilson Mensah and Talbert Shumba (Triangle), Malvin Mkolo, Mthokozisi Msebe and Billy Vheremu (Bulawayo Chiefs).
Harrison Masina also arrived from Hunters and Gift Saunyama was lured from Black Rhinos.
Last year, they had 16 new signings, which means in two seasons they invested in 27 new players
Going into the weekend game, Simba Bhora will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways after they lost their previous league game 1-0 against Herentals. The result ended Simba Bhora’s 14-game unbeaten run in the league.
FC Platinum made the most out of that result as they won 3-0 against Yadah Stars.
They will play their last three matches against Bulawayo Chiefs (home), Simba Bhora (away) and end the season with a home clash with TelOne.
Third-placed Manica Diamonds, who lost to Dynamos in the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals on Sunday will face Hwange at the Colliery on Sunday as Ngezi Platinum, with 46 points on fourth spot, play host to Bikita Minerals at Baobab on Saturday.
Highlanders, fifth with 44 points, will entertain Greenfuel at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
Fixtures
Ngezi Platinum v Bikita Minerals (Baobab Stadium), Telone v Herentals (Ascot), Simba Bhora v CAPS United (Wadzanayi Stadium) Bulawayo Chiefs v Arenel Movers’ (Luveve Stadium) Yadah FC v ZPC Kariba (Heart Stadium)
Sunday
Chegutu Pirates v Chicken Inn (Baobab Stadium) Dynamos v FC Platinum (Rufaro Stadium), Hwange v Manica Diamonds (Colliery) Highlanders v Greenfuel
—@innocentskizoe
Online Reporter