Southern Region clubs drop points

IN Week 20 of the 2023 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign, Southern Region based topflight league clubs were charitable.

They were the biggest point droppers with title chasing Highlanders, new babies Sheasham, ambitious Bulawayo Chiefs and returnees Hwange all falling by the way side.

Interestingly, Bosso, Sheasham and Chiefs fell to their opponents by identical 2-0 away scorelines.

Hwange were beaten 1-0 by GreenFuel.

It was a weekend that produced 12 goals, four draws, five home wins and the same number of away defeats.

In that regard, from the Southern Region, four-time league champions, FC Platinum were the only club that managed to register a win when they clobbered log leaders Highlanders 2-0 in a match that was played at Mandava Stadium last Saturday and well handled by undoubtedly’s Zimbabwe’s best referee Brighton Chimhene.

It was Bosso’s first defeat of the season in a weekend in which another Southern Region based Premier Soccer (PSL) outfit, Chicken Inn dropped crucial points when they were held to a 0-0 draw by army side Cranborne Bullets.

So in Week 20, the Gamecocks were the only club from the region that managed to force a draw in a weekend that produced four stalemates (Dynamos 0 Simba Bhora 0, Manica Diamonds 1 Herentals 1, ZPC Kariba 0 Caps United 0, Chicken Inn 0 Cranborne Bullets 0).

While admitting it was a bad day in office for the bulk of the teams in the region, Hwange technical manager Bongani Mafu called for a level playing field.

“These were all away defeats that were posted by clubs based in the Southern Region. It’s getting worrying because I think we should also get to play on level playing fields.

“There are a lot of things that need to be levelled for teams playing away from home by our clubs. This has to do with travelling and recovery preparedness.

“Add to that, we also speak of issues to do with game management on the day (match officiating), it’s questionable. It seems visiting opposition teams have to suffer and that should be looked into and improved,” said Mafu.

Chipangano are on position 11 and are tied on 24 points with Bulawayo Chiefs and ZPC Kariba.

The Week 20 fixtures programme produced a total of 11 home goals and one away goal.

The single away goal was scored by Herentals College when they drew with third placed Manica Diamonds, quite a feat for the travellers.

Takesure Chiragwi’s Ngezi Platinum Stars who are on position two with 39 points, made sure they kept a close check on fellow championship contenders after they hammered Triangle United 3-0.

The Mhondoro based side were the biggest winners of the past weekend and they are now two points away from pacesetters Highlanders.

Week 20 Results

Black Rhinos 2 Bulawayo Chiefs 0, Chicken Inn 0 Cranborne Bullets 0, FC Platinum 2 Highlanders 0, Green Fuel 1 Hwange 0, Ngezi Platinum Stars 3 Triangle 0, Dynamos 0 Simba Bhora 0, Manica Diamonds 1 Herentals 1, Yadah Stars 2 Sheasham 0 — @FungaiMuderere