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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League action takes a two-week break after this weekend’s matches to make way for the national team’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifiers.Afcon matches are on the Fifa calendar for international assignments while the Chan tournament is for locally-based players, hence PSL’s decision to suspend its programme.
The Warriors, seeking a third Afcon qualification, begin the journey to Gabon, which is hosting the 2017 edition, with an away tie against Malawi next week. Foreign- based players are expected to be fused with local talent for the Flames trip.
A week later, a locally-assembled squad will play host to the Comoros Islands in a Chan qualifier.
Kennedy Ndebele, the PSL chief executive officer said they support the Warriors’ cause and want the national team coaches to have the country’s best players at their disposal.
PSL’s cooperation should be a relief to Zifa, particularly coach Callisto Pasuwa, who struggled to secure the players he wanted for the Under-23s’ Africa Games and Olympic qualifiers, which fell outside the Fifa calendar dates for international matches.
“Our league takes a two-week break because of (the) national team’s involvement in international matches. Our beloved Warriors play Malawi on June 13 in an Afcon qualifier and then play Comoros Islands for the Chan qualifiers on June 20. The national team coach and players in the league who have been performing well deserve to compete at these tournaments hence the decision to suspend our league programme,” said Ndebele.
The league will not have a mid-season break due to the hectic calendar, which includes championship matches, Cup games – the Chibuku Super Cup and the NetOne One Wallet Sup8r tournament.
The PSL has also incorporated the Warriors’ Chan and Afcon qualifiers.
Ndebele said there would be another break on the weekend of July 5 when locally based Warriors take on the Comoros Islands in the second leg of the Chan qualifier.
However, football enthusiasts are in for a thrill before the two-week long PSL break with exciting matches dotted around the country.
Tomorrow, defending champions Dynamos become the second Premiership team to play in the resort town of Kariba when they take on ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga Stadium.
The Glamour Boys will be hoping to pile more misery on their hosts, who lost their first PSL home match 0-3 against FC Platinum a fortnight ago.
Last weekend, ZPC Kariba surrendered a 1-0 lead to go down 1-2 against How Mine.
While DeMbare will be hoping to upset the electricity generators, pacesetters Chicken Inn will be involved in a stern test against Chapungu at Ascot Stadium in Gweru.
Chapungu had their seven-match unbeaten run brought to a halt by Harare City last week losing 0-2 and would be seeking to bounce back at home.
The Gamecocks are the surprise package of the season so far and if their title aspirations are to be taken seriously, they have to beat teams like Chapungu.
On Sunday, third placed Kelvin Kaindu’s Triangle United are tipped to collect maximum points at Gibbo Stadium when they host lowly Tsholotsho FC.
The Zhwane Boys are smarting from a 0-2 home defeat to Caps United.
Having lost 1-2 at home to How Mine two weeks ago, Triangle United know that a win against Tsholotsho will keep their title hopes alive.
Caps United play Flame Lily at the giant National Sports Stadium while Buffaloes take on Whawha at Mutare’s Sakubva Stadium.
Hwange are hoping to upset FC Platinum at the Colliery and register their third win of the season.
The coalminers have not had the best start of the season and lie in 11th position, just two points from the drop zone.
It’s an uphill task for Hwange because FC Platinum have been playing some beautiful football of late and are capable of disappointing Hwange in their backyard.
The final match of the weekend is a Bulawayo derby between Highlanders and How Mine.
How Mine and Highlanders have lately been enjoying good form.
Highlanders go into the game coming from a win against Whawha and a draw against FC Platinum while How Mine were victorious over championship contenders Triangle United and ZPC Kariba.
The two teams would want to maintain consistency.
How Mine, who are fourth on the table with 21 points from 12 outings — three points above seventh placed Bosso, will be without suspended striker Charles Sibanda and the injured Nelson Tachi, while Bosso will miss the services of Mthulisi Maphosa, Gabriel Nyoni and Ozias Zibande.
Highlanders’ striker Obadiah Tarumbwa awaits the doctor’s clearance because of a chest infection while national team defender Teenage Hadebe is also nursing a knock.
Online Reporter