Chronicle EditorFungai Muderere, [email protected]
THE Week 27 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League fixtures that were played on Saturday and Sunday saw Ngezi Platinum Stars FC continue with their fine run after they dismissed former champions Chicken Inn 1-0 at Baobab Stadium on Saturday.
The platinum miners are now on 54 points, eight ahead of defending league champions FC Platinum and Highlanders who are both tied on 46 points.
It was a weekend fixtures programme that produced a total of 12 goals with Herentals College, who thumped Yadah Stars 4-0, being the biggest winners.
They were 10 home goals and two away strikes.
FC Platinum and Simba Bhora are the two outfits that managed to score when they were away from their home bases.
Simba Bhora, who have registered two famous wins on the trot, are the only club that managed to grab a win away from home after they edged Bulawayo Chiefs 1-0 at Luveve Stadium.
“I’m happy that we managed to get two wins in a row. We have beaten Highlanders and Bulawayo Chiefs in two consecutive weeks which is a big achievement for us because these are not small clubs. We are a small club and it’s all pointing to the right direction. We will keep pushing,” said Simba Bhora head coach Tonderai Ndiraya
With the Manica Diamonds and Dynamos match postponed, five home wins by Ngezi Platinum Stars, Yadah Stars, CAPS United, ZPC Kariba and Triangle United were witnessed.
Two matches (Highlanders 0-0 Cranborne, Black Rhinos 0-0 Greenfuel) ended in stalemates.
It was a weekend that saw Norman Mapeza’s FC Platinum and Bosso falter to allow Ngezi Platinum Stars to have so much control on the destiny of the league title.
FC Platinum were floored 2-1 by ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga Stadium while free falling Highlanders were held to a nil all draw by basement side Cranborne Bullets.
So dire has been the situation at Highlanders after it all looked set that the Bulawayo giants were marching to the Promised Land and end their 17-year league title jinx.
With a form guide that has seen them post three defeats and two draws in their last five games, Bosso are among the nine clubs (Chicken Inn, Bulawayo Chiefs, Sheasham, Hwange, Cranborne Bullets, Black Rhinos, Greenfuel, Yadah Stars) that failed to find the back of the net in Week 27 games.
“It’s very disappointing, playing at home one would expect the team to collect three points. At this stage of the season dropping points at home makes the situation very difficult for us. I feel for the fans who came in their numbers to support the team and we did not win. We still continue to struggle in front of goal. We are seven games away before the end of the season and we will continue working hard,” said Bosso strikers coach Joel Luphahla.
On Sunday, the success starved Highlanders family watched in disbelief when their trusted penalty taker and captain Ariel “Mangoye” Sibanda sent his effort over the bar.
Yadah Stars, Triangle United, Black Rhinos and Cranborne Bullets are in the drop zone with the Sugar Boys being the only side from them that managed to collect maximum points in their previous matches.
Yadah Stars are on position 15 and are tied on 30 points with 16th placed Sheasham.
Bullets anchor the log standings with 22 points, two behind fellow army side Black Rhinos.
Meanwhile, the league action will tomorrow enter into Round 28.
Bosso have an away date with Greenfuel while log leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars travel to the capital for their match against Dynamos.
Second placed FC Platinum will seek to utilise home advantage when they do duty against Black Rhinos.
Inconsistent Chicken Inn welcome Luke Masomere’s ZPC Kariba at Luveve Stadium.
Sheasham will square it off against Triangle at Gweru’s Bata Stadium.
Simba Bhora will play against an equally buoyant CAPS United at Baobab Stadium.
Hwange meet high riding Herentals at Colliery Stadium.
On Thursday, Cranborne Bullets will entertain Bulawayo Chiefs at the National Sports Stadium while Yadah Stars play against Manica Diamonds at Baobab Stadium.
Weekend Results
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Greenfuel v Highlanders (Greenfuel), FC Platinum v Black Rhinos (Mandava), Chicken Inn v ZPC Kariba (Luveve), Sheasham v Triangle (Bata), Simba Bhora v CAPS United (Baobab, Dynamos v Ngezi Platinum Stars (National Sports Stadium), Hwange v Herentals (Colliery Stadium)
Thursday:Cranborne Bullets v Bulawayo Chiefs (National Sports Stadium). Yadah FC V Manica Diamonds (Baobab)
— @FungaiMuderere
Online Reporter