Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Premier Soccer League (PSL) is left with 10 games — a homestretch that will see a fierce competition for title and a relegation dogfight.
30 points are up for grabs and it’s hard to tell who will be crowned champions and who will be relegated.
FC Platinum, who have won all the titles since the league was increased from 16 to 18 teams in 2017, top the table with 51 points, six ahead of second-placed Dynamos who are tied on 45 points with Chicken Inn.
The platinum miners are on course to equal the record set by traditional giants Dynamos and Highlanders — winning four consecutive league titles.
But will FC Platinum, who started the season slowly, without aspirations of winning the title as they let go of most of their experienced players who include Silas Songani, Stanley Ngala, Rahman Kutsanzira, Ralph Kawondera and Kelvin Madzongwe, manage to hold on to their lead?
The platinum miners resolved not to renew contracts of players above 28 years old, as they sought to have a young squad.
It seems the decision to inject new blood by Norman Mapeza, who introduced youngsters such as Oscar Bhebhe (19), Thubelihle Ngwenya (19), Panashe Mutimbanyoka (20), Kelvin Mangiza (21) and Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya (19) into the team, is paying off.
Only six out of FC Platinum’s 24-man squad are aged over 30. They survived the chop because they had running contracts.
The old horses at FC Platinum are central defender Gift Bello (38), goalkeepers Petros Mhari (35) and Francis Tizayi (33), utility players William Stima (33) and Gift Mbweti (31), as well as midfielder Innocent Mucheneka (31).
Unbeaten in 11 games, having registered nine wins and two draws, FC Platinum’s countdown starts with an away trip to Ngezi Platinum Stars, one of the three teams to have beaten them this season. Bulawayo Chiefs and Herentals are the other sides to have collected maximum points against FC Platinum.
FC Platinum lost the first leg played at home to Ngezi 2-0.
The defending champions still have to play host to Herentals and atone for the first leg defeat.
FC Platinum managed to win seven out of the 10 matches against opponents that they are yet to face for the second time. They drew against Manica Diamonds and lost to Ngezi and Herentals.
In the first leg, FC Platinum claimed the scalps of Whawha (1-0), Bulawayo City (2-0), Highlanders (3-0 via the boardroom after the match had been abandoned at 1-1, Caps United (3-0), Yadah (2-0), Triangle United (4-0) and Cranborne, who they face at home on the last day of the season. They edged Cranborne 1-0 in the first leg.
All the above teams have a bone to chew against FC Platinum and Mapeza knows that his charges need to be psychologically and physically prepared for gruesome battles if they are to be crowned champions.
They’ll be away to Ngezi, Whawha at Ascot, where the log anchors shocked Chicken Inn and Highlanders. That will be followed by a visit to Bosso at Barbourfields Stadium, before they meet Caps United, a side that they pipped to the 2019 title and then Triangle United.
The home games remaining for FC Platinum are against Manica Diamonds, Bulawayo City, Herentals, Yadah and Cranborne.
In the last three seasons that FC Platinum were crowned champions, it’s only once in 2018 that they were at the top of the table after 24 games. Then, they were on 55 points, four ahead of Ngezi. This time around FC Platinum are at the top with 51 points, six ahead of Dynamos and Chicken Inn.
After 24 games in 2017, FC Platinum were third on the table three points behind Chicken Inn, who had amassed 48 points, but went on to be crowned champions with a total of 72 points after 34 matches.
Dynamos were runners-up with 70 points, Ngezi third on 65 and Chicken inn a distant fourth with 61 points.
In 2019, at this stage of the championship race, FC Platinum had amassed 41 points, three behind leaders Caps United. The Green Machine slipped as the title race got hot, with FC Platinum going on to win their third successive title with 62 points while Caps United ended the season third on the table with 58 points. Chicken Inn were runners-up with 59 points.
Now FC Platinum find themselves in firm control of their destiny, but as the competition gets tough, will they weather the storm?
An undeniable fact is that FC Platinum have a punishing defence that has only conceded eight goals.
They have complemented that by being the team with the most goals against their opponents, 36. Even if one is to remove the three goals that they were given following the disciplinary action against Highlanders, FC Platinum will remain with the highest number of goals.
They will bank on the experience of their gaffer Mapeza to orchestrate their sojourns, while crafty midfielder, who has played almost all FC Platinum’s games, but lacks charisma — Brian Banda — together with RainsomePavari, Bello, Mhlanga and eccentric goalkeeper Wallace Magalane will lead from the park.
2021/22 PSL top three table after 24 matches
P W D L F A GD Pts
FC Platinum 24 15 6 3 36 8 28 51
Dynamos 24 13 6 5 27 11 16 45
Chicken Inn 24 13 6 5 30 21 9 45
2019 PSL top three table after 24 matches
P W D L F A GD Pts
Caps United 24 13 5 6 40 29 11 44
Chicken Inn 24 12 5 7 36 19 17 41
FC Platinum 24 11 8 5 23 11 12 41
2018 PSL table after 24 matches
P W D L F A GD Pts
FC Platinum 24 17 4 3 35 10 25 55
Ngezi Platinum Stars 24 16 3 5 41 16 25 51
Chicken Inn 24 12 8 4 33 17 16 44
2017 PSL table after 24 matches
P W D L F A GD Pts
Chicken Inn 24 16 3 5 27 10 17 51
*Dynamos 22 15 3 4 38 16 22 48
FC Platinum 24 13 9 2 26 12 14 48
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