Soccer fans in for a mid-week treat

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
CASTLE Lager Premiership matches are coming thick and fast with most teams in action tomorrow.

Focus will be on leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars who are home to unpredictable Yadah FC.

Ngezi sit on 40 points from 20 games and have been the most lethal side since the mid-season break, scoring 10 goals in three games.

The championship pacesetters go into tomorrow’s encounter bubbling with confidence following their 2-1 away win over How Mine.

Yadah are just a place above the drop zone in 14th place with 21 points and will be looking to upset the applecart against Ngezi, whom they beat 1-0 in their first encounter.

A slight slip up by the platinum miners will cost them top spot, as second-placed Chicken Inn can dislodge them with a home win over Triangle United at Luveve Stadium.

Chicken Inn were involved in arguably the best Premiership fixture this season that ended in a 1-1 share of the spoils against FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane on Saturday.

Both sets of players showed their technical shrewdness in a pulsating game, as they switched formations in an attempt to crack each other open.

Chicken Inn right-back Passmore Bernard gave the visitors the lead by poking the ball into the net from close range after FC Platinum failed to clear their lines.

Soccer Star of the Year finalist Winston Mhango equalised for FC Platinum from a set piece with a curler into the bottom corner.

After that, they matched each other in every department and a draw was the fairest outcome.

Chicken Inn coach Rahman Gumbo said he knows they have to beat Triangle to remain in the title race.

“I’m happy with the point we got at Mandava and now our focus is on the next game, which we have to win at all costs to keep our championship hopes alive,” said Gumbo after Saturday’s thriller.

Triangle make the trip to Bulawayo in high spirits following a 1-0 win against Bantu Rovers which they hope will inspire them to get revenge for Chicken Inn’s 1-0 win at Gibbo Stadium in the first half of the season.

FC Platinum, who are fourth on the table with 36 points, have a tricky tie against Bulawayo City, who pounded Shabanie Mine 3-0 on Saturday.

FC Platinum and Bulawayo City drew 1-1 in the first leg.

“We’re running our race and taking the game seriously as we don’t want to be stuck in the relegation zone. Everyone is happy that we won against Shabanie Mine, but we have to quickly turn our focus to FC Platinum, who are in the championship race. It will be a tough game, but we’re ready for the fight,” said City coach Mandla Mpofu.

On the relegation side, table anchors Tsholotsho FC are at home to third from bottom Caps United in Beitbridge on Thursday, while Bantu Rovers will play host to Black Rhinos at White City Stadium.

Hwange, who occupy the last relegation spot in 15th place, have a tricky away encounter against Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium in an afternoon kick off.

Results
Saturday: Bulawayo City 3-0 Shabanie Mine, Yadah FC 0-0 Tsholotsho FC, How Mine 1-2 Ngezi Platinum Stars, FC Platinum 1-1 Chicken Inn, Black Rhinos 0-1 Dynamos

Yesterday: Highlanders 0-0 Harare City, Caps United 1-0 ZPC Kariba, Triangle United 1-0 Bantu Rovers, Hwange 2-0 Chapungu

Fixtures

Matchday 21
Tomorrow: FC Platinum v Bulawayo City (Mandava), Ngezi Platinum v Yadah FC (Baobab), Chapungu v How Mine (Ascot), Chicken Inn v Triangle United (Luveve), Harare City v Shabanie Mine (Rufaro, 1 PM), Dynamos v Hwange (Rufaro, TBA), Bantu Rovers v Black Rhinos (White City).

Thursday: ZPC Kariba v Highlanders (Nyamhunga), Tsholotsho FC v Caps United (Dulivhadzimu)

Table

P   W   D   L   F   A   GD   Pts
Ngezi Platinum   20   12   4   4   35   19   16   40
Chicken Inn   20   12   3   5   21   9   12   39
*Dynamos   18   11   3   4   26   16   10   36
FC Platinum   19   9   9   1   19   9   10   36
How Mine   20   9   6   5   16   14   2   33
Highlanders   19   9   5   5   20   15   5   32
Black Rhinos   19   9   4   6   23   15   8   31
ZPC Kariba   20   8   5   7   19   17   2   29
Triangle United   20   7   7   6   19   19   0   28
Bulawayo City   19   7   3   9   21   22   -1   24
*Chapungu   19   6   6   7   13   15   -2   24
Harare City   20   5   7   8   13   14   -1   22
Shabanie Mine   20   5   7   8   13   19   -6   22
Yadah FC   20   5   6   9   15   22   -7   21
Hwange   20   5   5   9   17   24   -7   20
Caps United   14   4   5   5   18   16   2   17
Bantu Rovers   20   2   3   15   18   40   -22   9
Tsholotsho FC   20   0   8   12   9   30   -21   8