Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WITH 10 games to go before the Castle Lager Premiership comes to an end, it has become clearer which teams are in the title race, but nothing is cast in stone.
Simba Bhora, now on 47 points after 24 games, have been helped by the early lead in the race.
But Joel Luphahla will now need to answer the big question — whether he will be able to keep the chasing pack, Scottland, MWOS, FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum at bay?
All five teams have shown they have what it takes to go top any given time.
Scottland’s 5-2 win over FC Platinum at Mandava on Saturday was a huge statement, a big win against team considered as favourites to win the title this season.
If they can remain as brutal as they were on Saturday, then the league is up for something special.
FC Platinum, who are on 40 points and still have a match in hand against Manica Diamonds, can still move back into striking distance and their experience winning four titles will tell them it is not over until the last game of the season.
MWOS are another big threat if they can manage to come out of their bad patch. They have lost much ground in the second half of the season in which they are one of the worst performing teams.
That they lost 1-0 to Dynamos, giants which before Saturday seemed not to have a clue of how to win a game against any opponent, summarises MWOS troubles.
But at 42 points, just five behind Simba, it is still game on.
Ngezi Platinum maybe eight points behind Simba Bhora, but Takesure Chiragwi’s side are the dark horses that cannot be ruled out this early.
Herentals (38) and TelOne (37) are mathematically in the race, but they will need much more than what they have shown so far to challenge for the title.
In the relegation zone, it will be safe to say ZPC Kariba on 31 points, Highlanders, CAPS, Bikita MInerals, Green Fuel, Chicken Inn, Manica Diamonds, Triangle Yadah and Dynamos on 19 points, are teams separated by only 12 points, and all very much in danger of relegation.
FC Platinum loss proves that they were lucky against Greenfuel, who should have won with a bigger margin than Scottland. Not taking away anything from Scottland’s win. I think the Greenfuel coaches made a mistake by keeping their strikers beyond the 30th minute mark for missing too many chances. Zvisineyi, team dzisina kuinvester mumaforeign players pamid window hakuna kwadzinosvika. Especially MWOS who should have bought at least six foreign players but they stuck to local guys. They should respect their fans, seeing that they had a good towards mid season and results were not consistent.