Highlanders travel to CAPS. . . PSL action enters into Round 26

CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) will on Saturday enter into Round 26 after paving way for the Warriors’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers against Kenya and Cameroon.

The Warriors played against Kenya last Friday and are due to face the Indomitable Lions in Uganda, today.
The Warriors kicked off their qualifying campaign with a 0-0 draw against hosts Kenya at the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.

The pending local league’s action will see Highlanders make the trip to Harare to take on CAPS United at Rufaro Stadium.
The first leg encounter between the two teams was played in April and Bosso emerged 2-0 victors, courtesy of first half strikes by Andrew Mbeba and McKinnon Mushore.

For the Saturday game, Bosso will welcome the services of midfield enforcer, Melikhaya Ncube, who missed their Week 25 home tie against Herentals College due to suspension.

Highlanders are perched on position five with 38 points and Makepekepe are on number nine with 34, four points behind the black and white army.

Smarting from a 1-0 away defeat they suffered at the hands of Hwange, Chicken Inn will on Sunday take on Yadah Stars at Luveve Stadium.

FC Platinum will fight it out against Manica Diamonds at Mandava Stadium while Philani “Beefy” Ncube mentored Arenel Movers’ entertain Greenfuel at Luveve Stadium. Log leaders, Simba Bhora will fight it against TelOne at Gweru’s Ascot Stadium.

Simba Bhora are in a rich vein of form that saw their head coach, Tonderai Ndiraya and Walter Musona being named August Coach and Player of the Month respectively.

Noisy PSL newboys Chegutu Pirates will do battle against Thulani “Thuts” Sibanda coached Bulawayo Chiefs at Baobab Stadium.

The game between defending champions, Ngezi Platinum Stars and Dynamos has been postponed.
DeMbare are representing the country in the Caf Confederation Cup contest.

Being the seeded side, Dynamos will be away for the first leg against Botswana’s Orapa United on September 14 at Obedi Itani Chilume Stadium.

The Glamour Boys will play host to Orapa United for the decider at the same venue a week later.
DeMbare were left with no option but to take the inconvenience of hosting their Caf Confederation Cup second-round home match against Orapa in their opponents’ territory.

With no approved stadium to stage international games in Zimbabwe, DeMbare, now the country’s sole representative in the Caf inter-club competitions following the preliminary round elimination of Ngezi Platinum Stars from the Champions League, will have to continue to play “home away from home.”

The Harare giants used the National Stadium in Gaborone, Botswana for their first preliminary tie against Zambian outfit, Zesco United, who they eliminated on a 1-0 aggregate score last month.

When the second-round draw saw them facing a club from Botswana, Dynamos were left to search for another stadium to use for their home games.

Dynamos turned to the Obedi Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, Botswana, as even the National Stadium in Gaborone is now no longer available due to refurbish-ment work being undertaken at the facility.

Likewise, Orapa United cannot use the National Stadium in Gaborone and will now have to play Dynamos in Francistown.
This may leave Dynamos with an option to stay in that country or camp in Bulawayo, which shares the same weather conditions with Francistown.

PSL Week 26 Fixtures
Saturday September 14
FC Platinum v Manica Diamonds (Mandava Stadium), Arenel Movers’ v Greenfuel (Luveve Stadium) CAPS United v Highlanders (Rufaro)
Sunday September 15
Bikita Minerals v ZPC Kariba (Sakubva), Herentals v Hwange (Rufaro), Chicken Inn v Yadah ( Luveve) Chegutu Pirates v Bulawayo Chiefs (Baobab Stadium) TelOne v Simba Bhora (Ascot Stadium.— @FungaiMuderere.