Sheasham prepare for coronation

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
CENTRAL Region Soccer League (CRSL) table toppers Sheasham FC, who are in fierce title race with TelOne FC, are not worried about the delayed coronation of the champions, following postponement of final league matches by a week.

The CRSL management decided to push the end of the season to the weekend of August 20-21, to enable army teams, Chapungu and Tongogara, whose players were involved in the Zimbabwe Defence Forces celebrations on Tuesday to catch up.

Chapungu and Tongogara will have to clear their outstanding matches so that they finish the season with the rest of the teams.

Chapungu, on position six with 38 points travel to Beitbridge for a date with Dulibadzimu United who are on fifth with 39 points while fourth-placed Tongogara with 41 points will be away to log anchors, Bishopstone.

But it is the delayed crowning of the championship that fans are focused on.

Sheasham enjoy a three-point lead over former Premiership side, TelOne, who have accumulated 54 points in 25 games.

A defeat for Sheasham on the last day against Loss Control in Zvishavane and a victory for TelOne whose last match of the season is against third-placed Vubachikwe will see the present leaders losing on PSL promotion due to goal difference.

TelOne have a goal difference of 43 compared to Sheasham’s 35.

Sheasham’s coach John Nyikadzino feels that postponement of the games is a blessing in disguise for his charges as it allows them to ease off pressure and refocus.

“In 2019 we found ourselves in a similar situation, needing just a draw to qualify but we lost the last game in Beitbridge and Whawha won promotion. We had gone for the last game with a two-point lead, needing just a draw and we failed. We don’t want that to happen again and what we need now is to keep calm and go for the kill.

“It won’t be an easy game, but the break gives us that time to refocus, reenergise, restrategise and it eases pressure,” said Nyikadzino.

CRSL final fixture
Saturday, August 20: MSU v Bishopstone (Mkoba)
Sunday, August 21: Chapungu v Kwekwe United (Mkoba), Dulibadzimu v Paramount (Dulibadzimu), TelOne v Vubachikwe (Ascot), Filabusi United v FC Platinum Under-19 (Filabusi), Loss Control v Sheasham (Gresham Stadium), Tongogara v ZPC Munyati (Tongogara) — @ZililoR