adminEddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
GIANTS Dynamos and Highlanders feel there will be no room for mistakes when they resume their contest for the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title tomorrow with a tense finish in the picture. Defending champions Dynamos will host Shabanie Mine at Rufaro tomorrow, while Highlanders, who have done well this year to position themselves for a League and Cup double following their Mbada Diamonds semi-final success over Harare City at the weekend, welcome unpredictable newboys Triangle at Barbourfields.
Bigboy Mawiwi’s Harare City will also be shifting their focus to the league competition with a date against relegated Motor Action at Gwanzura following their ouster from the Mbada Diamonds Cup by Highlanders.
City, who have cried foul claiming Bosso should not have been awarded a penalty in that game, are currently tied on 49 points together with log leaders DeMbare, who enjoy a superior goal difference.
Highlanders are piling the pressure and are just a point behind after 27 games.
Dynamos vice-captain Tawanda Muparati told The Herald the Glamour Boys will be aiming for maximum points against Shabanie Mine to strengthen their position at the summit.
The teams drew 1-1 in the reverse fixture at Maglas back in April, during which time the Harare giants were struggling to impose themselves at the start of the season. But they have since picked themselves up although they failed to win any cup competition.
The league title is now their only hope after missing the BancABC Sup8r Cup and the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
Muparati said DeMbare hope to win at home following a tough 2-2 draw at Triangle in their last match when they needed a late strike from Simba Sithole to maintain pole position.
“We should aim to avoid conceding goals and take the chances that come our way. It has been tough with the so-called small teams probably because we tended to underrate them.
“But it’s now crucial that we lift the gear in our remaining games. There should be no room for mistakes because with the way things are looking on the log standings, all top three teams still have a good chance.
“So we need maximum points from all our matches if possible. I am confident we can do it,” said Muparati.
Dynamos managed to stay top of the table last week despite dropping two points at Triangle as title rivals Highlanders and Harare City were also held in their respective matches.
Highlanders midfielder Masimba Mambare said the Bulawayo giants were hurt by the 1-1 draw in their last match at relegated Motor Action. A win in that match would have catapulted them back to the top of the table but the Division One bound side fought back strongly to deny them maximum points.
Harare City were also held to a 0-0 draw at Black Rhinos.
Mambare said Highlanders are hoping to use home advantage against Triangle tomorrow to keep their dream for the League and Cup double alive.
“The fight is still on and we do not despair just because we stumbled in one fixture. We will soldier on despite that result. Champions are known by the way they pick themselves up and continue with the fight after falling,” said Mambare.
“As you can see, the heat is too much for everyone now because all the top teams failed to win their last matches.
“Sometimes you go into the match giving yourself pressure that you should win at all cost and that usually results in too many mistakes.
“Small mistakes in the end cost you big things. As Highlanders, we just need to maintain maximum concentration, giving equal attention to all our remaining games. This is not the time to make mistakes.”
Mambare said the championship had become tougher with each passing year.
“It has been tough this year but if you are to look back to the last three or four seasons it has been like that for the top teams and on all occasions the championship was decided by goal difference.” said Mambare.
“In 2010 while I was still at Motor Action we finished level on points with Dynamos and we were champions because of superior goal difference. The script was almost the same again when Dynamos won it in 2011 at the expense of FC Platinum. Last year we had Dynamos and Highlanders going all the way until the very last day when Dynamos won the championship because they had a better goal difference.
“The only difference this year is that there are more teams involved in the race and it looks promising for all the clubs in the top five. But, personally, I feel we should win the title this year.
“The key for us is to continue working hard.”
Bosso, who last won the league title in 2006, have a good chance of finishing the year with a rare double following their penalty shoot-out victory over Harare City at the weekend, which earned them a place in the final of the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
But after clashing with Triangle tomorrow, they will have to face Harare City again in their penultimate fixture this Sunday in a game that should have a huge bearing on the destiny of the championship.
“It is a very important game for us and for them as well. There will only be one game left afterwards so I believe whoever wins will have better chances of lifting the championship,” said Mambare.
PSL have lined up a bumper programme for tomorrow as they seek to align matches involving teams in the race for the championship and also those fighting for survival.
Seven matches will be played tomorrow with FC Platinum hosting Black Mambas, while CAPS United date Black Rhinos at the National Sports Stadium as they seek to make the most of the remaining three games to shore up their faint hopes in the championship race.
CAPS United and FC Platinum are only four points off the pace with 45 points apiece.
Relegation-threatened Black Rhinos have to fight hard in their last three games, while former champions Monomotapa could join Tripple B and Motor Action on the way out if they lose to How Mine on Thursday.
Fixtures
Tomorrow
Dynamos v Shabanie Mine (Rufaro), Tripple B v Chicken Inn (Dulibadzimo), FC Platinum v Black Mambas (Mandava), Hwange v Buffaloes (Colliery), CAPS United V Black Rhinos (NSS), Harare City v Motor Action (Gwanzura), Highlanders v Triangle United (Barbourfields)
Thursday
Monomotapa v How Mine (Gwanzura)
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