Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE die is cast!
The four Castle Lager Premier Soccer League teams that have a connection with the Eastern Region – Manica Diamonds, GreenFuel, Bikita Minerals and Triangle – are neck-deep in the relegation zone and will be cancelling each other out on Sunday as the curtain comes down on the 2025 season.
On Sunday, Manica Diamonds will face Bikita Minerals at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare – the same day and time that GreenFuel FC will entertain Triangle at the GreenFuel Arena in Chisumbanje.
The matches start at 3pm.
After a PSL indaba on Tuesday in Harare had ruled that no teams would be relegated this year – the eastern region appeared to have been the biggest beneficiary of that decision – but somehow, as fate would have it, the decision was overturned, and termed ‘nonsense’ by FIFA, leaving the PSL relegation series to go ahead into the final round of the 2025 season fixtures.
Interestingly, on the final day of the season, goals might make a huge difference in the relegation dogfight as teams in the relegation zone are currently separated by less than three points – with some sitting on top of others courtesy of a difference of a single point.
For example, GreenFuel FC, in 17th position, has a relatively healthier goal difference of minus two than Dynamos who are in the 13th position, but have a minus six goal difference.
Triangle could be sitting below Dynamos on the log standings, but have a healthy goal difference of three compared to Highlanders (one), Chicken Inn (minus two), Manica Diamonds (minus four) and Dynamos (minus six).
As it stands, Highlanders, Chicken Inn, Manica Diamonds, Dynamos, Triangle United, Bikita Minerals, GreenFuel FC and Yadah are all in real danger of playing in the second tier league next season.
Highlanders are in 10th position with 38 points and Chicken Inn, who are in 11th position, have also amassed the same number of points, but have an inferior goal difference compared to Highlanders.
Manica Diamonds are in 12th position with 38 points while Dynamos have the same number of points and are in 13th position owing to an inferior goal difference.
Triangle United FC have 37 points and are in 14th position, while Bikita Minerals also have 37 points, again with an inferior goal difference to Triangle United FC. GreenFuel FC are in 16th position with 36 points, while Yadah have 35 points and are in 17th position.
Bikita Minerals coach, Wilson Mutekede, conceded that the final day of the 2025 season will be sad for the Eastern Region, given that the fixtures will see the four teams facing each other.
“Yes, it is really going to be sad to see the teams in the region sending each other to Division One. The fixtures on the final day of the season have not been kind to us,” he said.
Manica Diamonds coach, Tafadzwa Mashiri, said Sunday’s match is a typical do-or-die scenario.
“This is a typical do-or-die fixture for us. We really need a result on the final day of the season. It is a tricky fixture for us given that our opponents will be out to win.
“We have done our part in preparing ourselves mentally in order to deal with phases and situations of the game. We are aware that proper game management is needed for us to cross the finishing line and we have tried our level best to do just that,” he said.
The Castle Lager Premier League season of 2025 has never been rosy for the Eastern Region representatives and looking back when the season hit the halfway mark the quartet were in the bottom half of the log standings and even at that time dreaming of any of them clinching the title was just Utopian.
Ironically, all four Eastern Region representatives in the top-flight league cannot complain about lack of resources as they are, not only corporate-owned, but well-financed.
Bikita Minerals is owned by lithium mining company, Bikita Minerals, GreenFuel FC is owned by ethanol-producing concern, GreenFuel, Manica Diamonds is bankrolled by diamond mining concern, Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company, while Triangle FC is a corporate social responsibility project owned by sugar-producing company, Tongaat Hullet
