adminpenultimate round of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League marathon at Mandava on Sunday.
The match, which is the climax of an exciting season that began with Lloyd Mutasa at the helm of DeMbare, will decide matters between the Harare giants and newcomers FC Platinum who are close to winning the championship in their debut season.
FC Platinum beat Monomotapa 2-0 on Wednesday to maintain their grip on the destiny of the championship while Dynamos kept the pressure when they beat Motor Action by the same margin at Rufaro.
Pasuwa said DeMbare were not sitting on their laurels and have vowed to throw everything at their opponents, FC Platinum and Kiglon, in the last two games to get the six points they need to secure the championship.
Three points separate the teams on the log standings with two rounds of play remaining in the league.
“I think Sunday’s game against FC Platinum will be the decider. It’s one match we must win because we trail FC Platinum by three points.
“We have to collect those points from them,” said Pasuwa.
A Dynamos win on Sunday will level the points at the summit of the table where FC Platinum are on 55 points, but the Glamour Boys could assume top position because they have a better goal difference.
Pasuwa said he was aware of the backlash from the Moneybags whom they have now beaten twice in the league and cup tournaments this year.
DeMbare were 2-0 victors in the first leg through goals from Desmond Maringwa and Martin Vengesai.
Another 1-0 win in the semi-finals of the Mbada Diamonds Cup at Barbourfields last Sunday did enough to set the tone for the weekend tie.
“It’s going to be hard but we have to take the challenge. It’s always tricky playing against people you have just beaten, especially when there is this much at stake. To make matters worse we are playing away and that could make FC Platinum very dangerous this time around because they, obviously, take that defeat into consideration,” said Pasuwa.
They will be almost be assured of the title with another point in the last game since Dynamos will only be able to end on 56 points if they go on to beat Kiglon in their last game.
FC Platinum assistant coach Tendai Chikuni said the Moneybags were focused on victory on Sunday.
The battle for survival is also heating up at the other end of the table where two of the six teams – Shooting Stars, Shabanie Mine, Monomotapa, Black Mambas, Masvingo and Blue Ribbon – could join relegated Kiglon and Zimbabwe Saints down the drain.
Shooting Stars could be relegated this weekend if they lose to CAPS United.
The Wild Boys, who beat Blue Ribbon 2-0 on Wednesday, are hanging precariously on 27 points while Shabanie Mine are also deep in the mix with 31 points.
“We have talked with the players about our position and everyone understands what it means to be where we are on the log table. We don’t want to be relegated and we all share the same feeling that we should win our remaining games. Our victory over Blue Ribbon was good motivation and we hope to build on that,” said Wild Boys coach, Tonderai Marume.
Monomotapa, who lost 2-0 to FC Platinum, are not safe, just one rung above Shabanie Mine on the log standings with 32 points. They travel to Bulawayo for a tough must-win match against Highlanders’
Fixtures
Sunday; Hwange v Masvingo (Colliery), Highlanders v Monomotapa (Barbourfields), FC Platinum v Dynamos (Mandava), Motor Action v Gunners (Motor Action Sports Club), Chicken Inn v Shabanie Mine (Luveve), Kiglon v Zimbabwe Saints (Gwanzura), CAPS United v Shooting Stars (NSS), Black mambas v Blue Ribbon (Morris Depot).
Online Reporter