daniel chigunwe
Fungai Muderere
TITLE chasing Ngezi Platinum Stars have opened a four-point lead over second placed Highlanders at a time when the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League action has reached fever pitch.
The local elite football league is now at a state of extreme excitement and Week 24 fixtures programme saw Takesure Chiragwi mentored Mhondoro based Ngezi Platinum Stars take their points tally to 48 after they thumped ZPC Kariba 3-0 in a match that was played at Nyamhunga Stadium on Saturday.
Takunda Benhura grabbed a brace before Delic Murimba weighed in with a single goal to help Madamburo to collect maximum points in a weekend where Bulawayo football giants Highlanders and third placed Manica Diamonds dropped crucial points.
Bosso suffered a 1-0 away defeat at the hands of Premier Soccer League returnees Hwange.
In their last five games, Bosso fell to FC Platinum, Chicken Inn and Hwange before their epic tie against Dynamos was abandoned when they were trailing 2-0.
Last weekend, they managed to post a 2-0 win against Yadah Stars.
Jairos Tapera’s Manica Diamonds were beaten by army side Black Rhinos 2-1.
Diamonds remained glued on 42 points, two ahead of FC Platinum who are slowly closing in on the pacesetters.
With 10 league matches remaining before the end of the season for each team, Chiragwi has however, downplayed that they are targeting the PSL coveted trophy.
“We still want to keep on doing well and improve as a team. Winning the title is not our target but we are playing in a very competitive league,” said Chiragwi.
It was a weekend that also saw former champions Chicken Inn drop two crucial points at home when they were held to a 1-1 draw by fourth from the bottom placed Triangle United.
Gamecocks gaffer Prince Matore bemoaned poor decision making from his arsenal, underscoring that there was a need for his boys to pick themselves up.
“We need to have our boys to work on their decision making. It’s very bad to drop points at home. We are now at a stage that everyone in the league is fighting for his life,” said Matore.
Chicken Inn are on 38 points, one adrift of DeMbare who managed to claim the Harare derby rights after edging their longtime nemesis CAPS United 1-0 courtesy of a Nyasha Chintuli strike.
Bulawayo Chiefs compounded Yadah Stars’ woes after they beat them 2-1. It was Amakhosi Amahle’s second consecutive win.
In the previous week, they beat Dynamos at Barbourfields Stadium.
Gweru based Sheasham gave a good account of themselves when they beat visiting Cranborne Bullets 1-0. The Construction Boys are now on 26 points.
Just like Sheasham, fast improving Tonderai Ndiraya’s Simba Bhora managed to move into the safer zone after they thumped Greenfuel 3-0.
Makepekepe are two points above the relegation matrix and Black Rhinos moved off the bottom of the log standings to begin their bid to avoid the dreaded chop.
Online Reporter