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Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE curtain comes down on the 2018 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League today, with teams aiming to finish the season strongly.
FC Platinum have already been crowned champions, while Shabanie Mine, Mutare City Rovers, Bulawayo City and Nichrut have been axed from the topflight.
With nothing to lose, the four relegated sides will want to bid the Premiership in style by winning their respective games.
Table anchors Shabanie Mine welcome surprise package Herentals, who are sixth on the league table with 48 points, three points behind Highlanders, who ended their season with a goalless draw against champions FC Platinum on Wednesday.
Herentals have done well in their debut Premiership season to be in the top six and can even eclipse Bosso should they beat Shabanie Mine by a six-goal margin.
A clash of relegated teams is on at Vengere Stadium in Rusape where Mutare City Rovers play host to Bulawayo City, while Nichrut play former champions Dynamos in Gweru.
The pick of the weekend is the Chicken Inn versus Triangle United match set for Luveve Stadium.
Chicken Inn and Triangle, winners of the Chibuku Super Cup, are in a battle for a third-place finish.
Chicken Inn are third on the table with 56 points, a point above Triangle, who have done reasonably well.
Chicken Inn gaffer Joey Antipas has challenged his lads to end their five-match winless streak.
“Inconsistency cost us big time this season. We’ve been blowing hot and cold. The season ends on Saturday and I’ll be happy if the lads can snatch victory and we finish the season on a high. It has been a competitive year and Triangle are no pushovers. They have a good coach, a good squad which I respect, but I want my boys to fight for their worth,” said Antipas.
Chicken Inn have a wealth of experience to guide them against Triangle, who have won two of their last five games.
The backline of Passmore Bernard, Moses Jackson and Last Sithole will be expected to shut out Triangle’s attackers, with Clemence Matawu, Simon Munawa and Innocent Mucheneka forming the midfield backbone, while Obriel Chirinda is expected to lead their strike force.
Triangle will bank on the experience of goalkeeper Ronald Mudimu, defending quartet of Derwin Phiri, Arnold Chiveya, Kudzai Chigwida and Donald Dzvinyai. Midfielders Trevor Mavhunga, Ralph Kawondera, Collin Dhuwa, Russel Madamombe and Phineas Bamusi are expected to keep FC Platinum-bound forward Lameck Nhamo with a clean supply.
Matchday 34 Fixtures
Today: Yadah v Harare City (Rufaro), ZPC Kariba v Bulawayo Chiefs (Nyamhunga), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Black Rhinos (Baobab), Chicken Inn v Triangle United (Luveve), Nichrut v Dynamos (Ascot), Caps United v Chapungu (National Sports Stadium), Mutare City Rovers v Bulawayo City (Vengere), Shabanie Mine v Herentals (Maglas)
Table
P W D L F A GD Pts
FC Platinum 34 24 6 4 52 14 38 78
Ngezi Platinum 33 20 5 8 50 23 27 65
Chicken Inn 33 15 11 7 41 25 16 56
Triangle United 33 17 4 12 42 32 10 55
Highlanders 34 14 9 11 34 29 5 51
Herentals 33 12 12 9 24 24 0 48
Caps United 33 12 11 10 34 30 4 47
Harare City 33 10 17 6 27 25 2 47
Black Rhinos 33 11 13 9 37 30 7 46
**ZPC Kariba 33 12 12 9 28 26 2 45
Dynamos 33 10 12 11 28 34 -6 42
Yadah FC 33 9 13 11 32 39 -7 40
Byo Chiefs 33 9 11 13 29 35 -6 38
Chapungu 33 9 11 13 27 34 -7 38
Nichrut 33 8 9 16 30 40 -10 33
Bulawayo City 33 8 5 20 31 43 -12 29
Mutare City 33 5 8 20 24 52 -28 23
Shabanie Mine 33 3 14 16 24 57 -32 19
**Three points deducted for use of a suspended player
— @ZililoR
Online Reporter