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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
A blockbuster Sunday awaits football fans when the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season ends with results at the top and bottom of the table of great interest.One team, out of two still in the running, will be crowned champions on Sunday while two teams from seven will join already condemned Bantu Rovers and Chiredzi United on the highway to Division One after an unsuccessful 30 week journey that began in April.
With no clear candidates for the crown and the fall, the Premier Soccer League has fixtured all eight matches for Sunday at 3PM to avoid match manipulation and calculations.
Leaders ZPC Kariba and kings of Zimbabwe football in the last three years Dynamos, are involved in a two horse race for the $70,000 prize money and Caf Champions League ticket which the electricity men have already publicly said they are ready for.
Black Rhinos, Shabanie Mine, Harare City, Buffaloes, Triangle and Chapungu are all sitting on the wire with their fate set to be known after 90 minutes of football on Sunday.
An intriguing battle is expected at Gibbo Stadium where Triangle, on 37 points welcome fellow relegation candidates Shabanie Mine who are on 35 and needing nothing short of victory to be certain of survival. A draw for the Biggie Zuze-coached Triangle will still suffice for them, leaving Jairos Tapera, the Shabanie Mine coach, to pray that Black Rhinos and Harare City on 34 and 35 points, lose.
If both Rhinos and City lose, Buffaloes will survive regardless of their result against Hwange at Sakubva Stadium.
Gwanzura Stadium is likely to have more fans than the giant National Sports Stadium where Dynamos will be taking on How Mine for the simple reason that a new king could be born at that Highfield venue in the form of ZPC Kariba.
Limited Chikafa, the ZPC Kariba skipper will walk to the podium to lift the new PSL trophy if they beat Caps United while a draw will still do although not entirely safe. ZPC Kariba are two points clear with 56 points but can still fail to lift the trophy if they lose and Dynamos manage to overcome How Mine.
DeMbare though, might be suffering from lack of confidence after failing to record a win in their last three two home matches.
Meanwhile, the new PSL trophy will not be taken to Gwanzura or National Sports Stadium with head of secretariat Kennedy Ndebele saying “it will be somewhere but not at Gwanzura or National Sports Stadium.”
“The winner will only be known after 90 minutes on Sunday so why should we take the trophy to any of the two venues. What the fans should be assured of though is that we are going to present the winner of the league with the trophy on Sunday,” said Ndebele.
Dynamos are keeping the previous trophy which they have won in three consecutive years.
PSL Fixtures
Sunday:
Harare City v Chicken Inn (Rufaro), Triangle United v Shabanie Mine (Gibbo), Black Rhinos v Bantu Rovers (Rimuka ),Buffaloes v Hwange (Sakubva), FC Platinum v Chiredzi (Mandava), Highlanders v Chapungu (Hartsfield), ZPC Kariba v Caps United (Gwanzura, SS9), Dynamos v How Mine (National Sports Stadium)
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