PSL action shelved for Uhuru semis

Fungai Muderere
The Premier Soccer League 2016 campaign Week Twoaï¿½ï¿½s action saw a drop in the number of goals scored with only 16 produced down from 22 while three Chicken Inn players went on trials in South Africa.

Skipper Danny aï¿½? Decoaï¿½? Phiri (ABOVE), holding midfielder Tafadzwa Raphael Kutinyu and striker Moses Demera left on Tuesday for a week-long trial stint with South Africaaï¿½ï¿½s Golden Arrows.

Last weekend, the three gifted players helped Gamecocks to bag three points against stubborn leagueaï¿½ï¿½s newboys Border Strikers whom they edged 1-0 courtesy of a last minute wonder strike by young Devine aï¿½?Magayaaï¿½? Lunga.

aï¿½?Our captain Danny Phiri together with Kutinyu and Moses Demera went for trials at Golden Arrows. While it will be a rare development for them to be signed by Arrows, as a club we believe have enough reserve that can fit in their places with so much ease,aï¿½? said Gamecocks chairman Lifa Ncube.

aï¿½?It is our policy as a club NOT to stand in any playeraï¿½ï¿½s way. If they do well we will let them join Golden Arrows. The invitation of the three players at one go by Arrows for trials shows that we are a strong side that does not rely on individual brilliance,aï¿½? added Ncube.

Phiri, Kutinyu and Demera are part of Kallisto Pasuwaaï¿½ï¿½s home-based senior national team players setup and they did well in the Gamecocksaï¿½ï¿½ debut CAF Champions League campaign where they unfortunately fell at the hands of Mzansiaï¿½ï¿½s Mamelodi Sundowns.

Meanwhile, PSLaï¿½ï¿½s Week Three action has been shelved to pave way for the two Independence semi-final ties set for Harare and Zvishavane on Saturday.

In a repeat of PSL week one match that ended 3-0 in favour of Chicken Inn, the Innscor sponsored Bulawayo based league champions take on Dynamos in as many weeks at Rufaro Stadium.

The other semi-final match will see bruised Highlanders face FC Platinum in a space of six days. The game will be played at Barbourfields Stadium after the platinum miners beat Bosso 2-1 in a league match that was staged at Emagumeni last Sunday.

The Independence Cup is funded by the government and the four teams were hand-picked to feature in this yearaï¿½ï¿½s tournament.

Winners are set to walk away with $20 000 while the losing finalists get $15 000. The organisers have also said the third and fourth placed clubs will receive $10 000 and $5 000 respectively.

Fixtures
Independence Semi-Finals

Monday :
3rd and 4th Play Offs

Loser Semi Final 1 vs Loser Semi Final 2, White City, 1500hrs

Finals
Semi Final Winner 1 vs Semi Final Winner 2, NSS, 1500HRS

PSL Week Three
Chicken Inn v How Mine (Luveve), ZPC Kariba v Bulawayo City (Nyamhunga), FC Platinum v Chapungu (Mandava), CAPS United v Harare City (Rufaro), Mutare City Rovers v Dynamos (Sakubva), Hwange v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Colliery), Tsholotsho v Highlanders (Barbourfields),Triangle United v Border Strikers (Gibbo)