Online Reporter
It’s a Super Sunday feast where teams, including giants Dynamos and Highlanders q fighting to safeguard their Premier Soccer League status.
It’s the very final day of the season. Seven teams are all in a swim or sink situation. Dynamos, Highlanders, Bikita Minerals, Manica Diamonds, Yadah, Greenfuel, Chicken Inn and Triangle are all in a precipice.
Three of them will join already relegated Kwekwe United down by 5pm.
It’s so delicate in that red zone. They have to fight for their lives not any other time but today. It will be joy somewhere and tears elsewhere.
At Wadzanayi in Shamva, Yadah, perennial relegation fighters have never been demoted since coming up in 2017. They have always found a way to survive. But today, it’s not all in their hands. They can beat third-placed and outgoing champions Simba Bhora but still that might not be enough to save them. But then they need to win and hope other results can favour them. The question is will they even win for themselves. Most certainly we will have loads of emotion at Wadzanayi at the sound of the final whistle.
This is how the two teams are lining up
Simba Bhora
William Thole, Webster Tafa, Carlos Mukumbira, Butholezwe Ncube, Isheanesu Mauchi, Donald Mudadi, Emmanuel Ziocha, Ishmael Nyanhi, Blessing Moyo, Trevor Mavhunga, Isaska Gurirab
Yadah
Taimon Mvula, Marvelous Ferenando, Josiah Daka, Terrence Maguranyanga, Evans Rusike, Innocent Mucheneka, Ryan Ncube, Ariel Makopa, Shingai Masukuta, Takunda Vareta, King Nadolo
DeMbare’s D-Day
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Good afternoon. Welcome to Rufaro Stadium for the Dynamos v FC Platinum match.
Match details:
GIANTS Dynamos’ turbulent season faces a definitive moment this afternoon when they host FC Platinum in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Rufaro.
The giants find themselves closest to relegation than ever since 2005 when they staged a miraculous escape on the last day in Masvingo.
On 38 points, they have everything to play for this afternoon, and in all their labours, they know they have to avoid defeat at all costs.
DeMbare are among the eight teams involved in survival dogfight this afternoon.
They are just one point above the drop zone and with an unhealthy -6 goal difference.
A defeat could complicate matters, if Yadah (35 points), who are also in last ditch efforts to save their status at Simba Bhora, win at Wadzanayi.
Highlanders on 38 (1), Chicken Inn 38 (-2), Manica Diamonds 38 (-4) Dynamos 38 (-6) Triangle 37 (3) Bikita Minerals 37 (-12), Green Fuel on 36 (-2) and Yadah on 35 (-6) are all battling for their lives this afternoon.
In contrast, FC Platinum have virtually nothing to play for after their final place was virtually sealed by the end of the penultimate round of the campaign.
The Zvishavane side is welded into sixth place. They will not be moved, whether they win, they draw or they lose. Only unless the loss to DeMbare is by five or more goals could Herentals pip them into sixth place by goal difference.
But this is not practical, when looking at the strengths of both DeMbare and FC Platinum.
The first leg between the sides was fiercely contested but the match could not last the distance as it was abandoned in the 75th minute after Dynamos players walked out in protest against a penalty decision.
Referee Qedisani Dirwai awarded the penalty after ruling that DeMbare captain Emmanuel Jalai had fouled Oscar Bhebhe inside the penalty area.
After a full hearing by the PSL Disciplinary Committee, DeMbare were found guilty of causing the abandonment of the match.
In their disciplinary decision, the PSL awarded the match to FC Platinum with a 3–0 scoreline, while Dynamos and their coach (then Saul Chaminuka) were fined $5,000 and $4,000, respectively.
DeMbare need to make up for the setback. To their credit, they have been unbeaten in 10 league games under coach Kelvin Kaindu.
Line-ups
Dynamos: Prince Tafiremutsa, Emmanuel Jalai, Abel Gwatidzo, Clive Mandivei, Issak Mahommed, Tellmore Pio, Vusa Ngwenya, Frank Agyemang, Jairos Kasondo, Leeroy Mavunga
FC Platinum: David Bizabani, Mbongeni Ndlovu, Misheck Ngwenya, Nickson Nyasulu, Thubelihle Ndlovu, Enock Karembo, Hagiazo Magaya, Dylan Nchito, Vincent Nyangulu, Oscar Bhebhe, Jarrison Selemani
Stay tuned for more…
Yadah’s PSL future in the balance
So early and Yadah are trailing. At this rate they might as well start preparing for life in the First Division.
Butholezwe Ncube with the goal.
Super Sunday Update
Dynamos 0-0 FC Platinum
Chicken Inn 0-0 Highlanders
Kwekwe United 0-0 CAPS United
Simba Bhora 1-0 Yadah
Green Fuel 0-0 Triangle United
Manica Diamonds 1-0 Bikita Minerals
It’s growing darker for Yadah
This is a year they had a good team, at least on paper, having four loanees from champions Scottland.
And it could be the year they will bid farewell to top-flight life.
They have been so clumsy throughout the season, thrice leading and then eventually losing, thrice holding up for a point and thrice eventually throwing the games up in the final moments.
It was written somewhere maybe that there won’t be any miracles this time around. They have conceded at Wadzanayi and that could be the final nail in their coffin, long made by themselves and they could be going down under, in a grave they long dug for themselves.
They are throwing everything forward to at least equalize then maybe get the winner. But it’s not looking good for The Miracle Boys.
Super Sunday Score Update
Dynamos 0-0 FC Platinum
Chicken Inn 1-0 Highlanders
Kwekwe United 0-0 CAPS United
Simba Bhora 1-0 Yadah
Green Fuel 1-0 Triangle United
Manica Diamonds 1-0 Bikita Minerals
A Brian Muza header from a Michael Charamba cross gives Chicken Inn the lead at Barbourfields Stadium.
Relegation log table as it stands
Chicken Inn. 41
Manica Diamonds 41
Greenfuel 39
Dynamos 39
Highlanders 38
Triangle 37
Bikita Minerals 37
Yadah. 35
Kwekwe Utd 10
Manica Diamonds 1-0 up through an Evans Katema Volley with their first attack of the game, barely two minutes into the game
Gem Boys started off strongly, with Tadiwanashe Murasiranwa’s effort cannoning off the crossbar against the run of play.
Match now evenly balanced as Bikita Minerals habe clawed their way back jnto game
Half time at Rufaro
Dynamos 0, FC Platinum 0
HT at Sakubva: Manica Diamonds 1-0 Bikita Minerals (Katema, 2′)
Bikita Minerals the better side in the final minutes of the opening half, dictating the pace but equaliser remains elusive.
Gem Boys defence standing resolute and repelling every attack
Warriors coach Marian ‘Mario’ Marinica is part pf the crowd at Rufaro, watching the match between Dynamos and FC Platinum.
Half Time at Wadzanayi
Simba Bhora 1-0 Yadah
That means the latter is going down if it remains like this.
Second half commences at Wadzanayi
Simba Bhora 1-0 Yadah
Second half resumes at Barbourfields Stadium.
No changes made by either side.
Match resumes, second half underway at Sakubva
SUBS:
Nigel Mpinduki on for Takunda Jeffrey (Manica Diamonds)
Kimberly Manyika on for Percy Shumbaimwe (Bikita Minerals)
Bosso equalise through an Andrew Mbeba free kick on the penalty area arc.
Yadah misses penalty
An opportunity to equalize for Yadah from the spot but then Mucheneka skied the effort. It’s a chance they will live to always regret. A miss Mucheneka won’t like to remember in his career.
Relegation log table as it stands
And Triangle could survive after all
Manica Diamonds 41
Chicken Inn 39
Highlanders 39
Dynamos 39
Triangle 38
Greenfuel 37
Bikita Minerals 37
Yadah. 35
Kwekwe Utd 10
Dynamos, Highlanders survive
It is Yadah, Greenfuel and Bikita Minerals who join Kwekwe United down.
