Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo
HIGHFLYING Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table toppers Ngezi Platinum Stars chase for a 20-league match unbeaten run will be under the spotlight when they visit former champions Chicken Inn at Luveve Stadium on Saturday.
Ngezi Platinum Stars were the last team to beat Chicken Inn at Luveve Stadium on 3 September 2022 when they won the encounter 2-1 courtesy of goals by Tinotenda Murasiranwa and Delic Murimba. Marlvin Whata got the consolation goal for the Gamecocks in that clash.
After the Ngezi Platinum Stars defeat, Chicken Inn went on an unbeaten run of 16 matches before Manica Diamonds put it to a halt with a 2-0 victory at Gibbo Stadium last Saturday.
Now wounded Chicken Inn have to recover from their first defeat of the season and get ready for cruising Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Buoyant following last weekend’s impressive 2-0 home win against reigning champions FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum Stars are enjoying a crest form that has seen them setting a club record of an unbeaten run of 19 league games since their promotion to the topflight in 2016. Before the present run that started after losing 1-0 away at Cranborne Bullets on 13 August 2022, Ngezi Platinum Stars record of not losing a league game stood at 15 which was between November 2017 and 3 June 2018 when they lost 1-0 away at Bulawayo Chiefs. During that period they won 12 matches and played to three draws.
Now Ngezi Platinum Stars are cruising under the former Shabanie Mine gaffer Takesure Chiragwi who was appointed as the substantive coach in November last year after guiding the team to a top four finish.
This season, Chiragwi’s side tops the table with 17 points from four wins and five draws. They are a point above Highlanders who will play their game in hand against Dynamos on Africa Day at Barbourfields Stadium.
Ngezi Platinum Stars would want to cement their position at the top of the table when they visit troubled Chicken Inn who are licking wounds from their defeat to Manica Diamonds. Two goals by the league’s leading scorer Fortune Binzi, with eight goals in nine matches, powered Manica Diamonds to a 2-0 victory.
The Gamecocks under Prince Matore are in dire need of a change of fortunes to get their title hopes back on track. On position eight with 12 points, the same number of points that Triangle United on position seven and ninth-on-the-table FC Platinum have, Chicken Inn can close the gap if they win against Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Chicken Inn do have experienced players who include ex-Ngezi Platinum Stars forward Clive Augusto, Marlvin Whata who scored the last time the platinum side beat Gamecocks 2-1 last year at Luveve Stadium and their man-of-the-moment Michael Charamba that can carry them through on a good day.
While Chicken Inn plans on getting their title hopes back on track, Harare giants Dynamos on position six with 13 points from eighth outings will be aiming at bouncing back to winning ways when they play host to Manica Diamonds at the National Sports Stadium.
DeMbare are coming from two consecutive 0-0 scoreline draws against Triangle United and Herentals, results that have agitated their fans.
Dynamos coach Hebert Maruwa will be hoping to appease his team’s restless supporters by winning against Manica Diamonds, a victory that will bring confidence to their followers as well as players heading to next Thursday’s away assignment against Highlanders.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League
Matchday 10 fixtures
Friday, May 19: Yadah v Herentals College (National Sports Stadium)
Saturday, May 20: Greenfuel FC v Black Rhinos (Gibbo), FC Platinum v ZPC Kariba (Mandava), Chicken Inn v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Luveve), Cranborne Bullets v Highlanders (National Sports Stadium)
Sunday, May 21: Dynamos v Manica Diamond (National Sports Stadium), Sheasham v Caps United (Mandava), Hwange v Triangle United (Colliery)
Monday, May 22: Simba Bhora v Bulawayo Chiefs (National Sports Stadium) — @ZililoR
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