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Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
AS the heat intensifies in the build-up to the Castle Lager Premiership’s Super Sunday, the management teams of the three major clubs involved in the title race — Harare City, Dynamos and Highlanders — have elected to keep a close lid on the incentives that could inspire their players to the Promised Land
Harare City have the brightest chance of landing a maiden Premiership title if they get a victory over CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium and will not be affected by results from elsewhere.
Second-placed Dynamos could also successfully defend their crown if they beat Black Mambas but that would be subject to leaders Harare City falling to Makepekepe.
Bosso can also be crowned champions if both Harare City and DeMbare falter while they sail past Shabanie Mine at Barbourfields.
With this nail-biting finish, all the clubs have hinted that carrots are being dangled for their players but they were also wary of exerting too much pressure on their troops by announcing the packages on offer before hand.
Harare City chairman Leslie Gwindi said yesterday he did not want to pre-empt what they have lined up for their players and the technical team.
A former PSL and Dynamos secretary-general, Gwindi said they have to clear the last hurdle first before they can focus on how to remunerate their players.
“There is still 90 minutes to play. We need to focus on the match and I do not think there is anything much we can talk of now. Maybe after the match, we can talk,” said Gwindi.
Harare City will be missing their kingpin and Warriors midfielder Silas Songani and Crispen Dickson as the players will be serving suspensions after accumulating three yellow cards each.
Over the past two seasons, Dynamos wrapped their season with a Mbada Diamonds Cup final but the Harare giants saw their hopes of a third league and cup double disappear when they were booted out of the knock-out tournament by How Mine in the quarter-finals.
Even the defence of the league title is no longer in DeMbare’s hands as they have to depend on bitter city rivals CAPS United to do them a huge favour by handing Harare City a defeat while they beat Black Mambas.
Dynamos secretary-general Webster Chikengezha said they were hoping to get a record crowd for their last game which they hope could also spur the Glamour Boys to their third straight championship.
“There is still hope that we can win the league championship and that is our focus on Sunday. On incentives to the players, I cannot say much because it will be putting pressure on the guys.
“But our players know what we discussed it when we had still five games to go before the end of the season and I do not think that it should be over-emphasised that we aim for the title,” said Chikengezha.
The Dynamos spokesperson said they needed maximum support for their team so that they keep alive the dream of snatching the title from Harare City.
“This is our last game of the season and we need support. I think our fans should be holding road shows around the capital and we should also be selling our replica jerseys at the stadium.
“Dynamos, however, will not hike the gate charges and the minimum ticket will remain at US$3 for the rest of the ground,” said Chikengezha.
Tomorrow, Dynamos will also be anxious over the fate of defender Partson Jaure who will be appearing before a Premier Soccer League Disciplinary committee to answer charges of insulting referee Thulani Bamala during a league match against Highlanders.
But it is certain that Dynamos will be without Oscar Machapa who was red-carded in the last match against Chicken Inn and defensive linkman Stephen Alimenda who is sitting on three yellow cards.
Before they crashed to Harare City, Highlanders seemed to have done enough to win the title but their 4-0 humiliation at the hands of the Sunshine Boys saw their championship aspirations hit a turbulence form which they may not be able to recover.
But just like Gwindi and Chikengezha Bosso chairman Peter Dube was also keeping a tight lid on the promises made to their players while keeping his fingers crossed that head coach Kelvin Kaindu could join them in time for the decider against Shabanie Mine.
Kaindu is away in England attending a coaching course and in his absence assistant coach Bekithemba Ndlovu came short on technical abilities as he dropped crucial points against Motor Action and Harare City.
“Maybe he will come a day before the game and that will depend on his schedule and flights,” said Dube.
Dube said they always expect Bosso players to give the best in every game and the final assignment against Shabanie was no exception.
“We are not going to put pressure on the guys for this match but what I know is that the guys have always been promised all the good things that come along with playing for Highlanders right at the start of the season.
“If you have an idea of how we can give them incentives, be free to tell us. But what I know is that they do not play games without incentives and this is not an exception,” said Dube.
Meanwhile, Motor Action vice-chairman Simeon Jamanda has dismissed suggestions that CAPS United may have aided the Mighty Bulls to win the 2010 league championship.
Motor Action won 4-2 to edge Dynamos on goal difference.
“It’s mischievous for people to say that CAPS United threw the game when Motor Action won the championship. For those who follow football, I think Motor Action have won 80 percent of their games against CAPS United.
“We at Motor Action never buy or throw away games and our current performance, even after we have been relegated can bear testimony to that,” said Jamanda.
On Sunday CAPS United stand in the way of Harare City’s march to the Promised Land.
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