admindown to Motor Action, FC Platinum, Dynamos and Highlanders.
Writing in their exclusive columns in our sister newspaper, H-Metro, the two coaches believe the title race has turned into a four-horse show.
Chunga had earlier predicted that the title will be contested by five clubs, having included CAPS United where he was in charge, before quitting in July.
Despite his Gunners being on an impressive seven-match unbeaten run, Chunga has ruled them out of the title race.
“I had predicted a five-horse race but now CAPS United are no longer part of that group. But the other four remain and they are the main characters in the title race,” wrote Chunga.
“A lot will depend on how they will play in the next matches but I do not see any other team gatecrashing into the party.
“We (Gunners) have had a good run but we need to be realistic, winning the title will be a miracle. We just want to enjoy ourselves while planning for next year.
“The happiest person at Gunners right now must be the club president (Cuthbert Chitima). Just surviving relegation means a lot to him.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s big match against Dynamos, Chunga said it will be a mistake for DeMbare to treat the match as a title decider.
“Beating Gunners will not guarantee Dynamos the title, they will still need to overhaul FC Platinum and Motor Action. So there is more to the title race than winning Sunday’s game.”
Chunga, however, believes that the game will give the world a clearer picture of the potential Calisto Pasuwa has as a Premiership coach.
Pasuwa took over as Dynamos coach early this month, replacing his former boss (at various other clubs) Lloyd Mutasa.
Dynamos became the first team for Pasuwa to take charge.
Although Dynamos beat Shooting Stars (4-1) and Shabanie Mine (2-0), in the first two matches under Pasuwa, Chunga believes the two matches cannot be used to judge the former utility player. In his last coaching job before joining Dynamos, Pasuwa was Chunga’s assistant at CAPS United.
“I’ve been mentoring him to be his own man and it gives me lots of joy that he has finally become his own man and now in charge of a big team like Dynamos,” said Chunga.
“Now it’s time for him to show that world what he is made of. It’s not like I will give him the game, he has to win it to prove to me that he can now stand on his own.”
Mutasa, who was replaced by Pasuwa at DeMbare, believes the title race will get clearer after Week 24.
“The race is now between Motor Action, FC Platinum, Dynamos and Highlanders but it will get clearer after three more weeks.
“All four teams have demanding fixtures in the coming weeks and it will take the most consistent team to win the title. The stage that the league is now at is such that the team with depth will be best placed. Also the issue of yellow cards will play an important role because even those with depth might be found wanting through suspensions.
“Teams will have to instill discipline in their troops. You will have teams taking special interests in things happening at other clubs, especially with regards cards and suspensions,” said Mutasa.
Looking at Gunners’ hopes, Mutasa said the youthful side has done well to survive relegation but will not be able to fight for this year’s title.
“Gunners have done extremely well with such a young side and to have the best record over the past seven weeks means coach Moses Chunga deserves a lot of credit.
“But expecting them to fight for the title is asking too much from the youngsters and unfair. They are 12 points behind the leaders and that means four games.
“You can’t expect Motor Action and FC Platinum to lose four of the nine games remaining. Also Gunners have done well for more than a month now and they will have bad days yet they cannot afford to drop points to be champions. So to be fair to Gunners, they will do well to make the Top Four but they will not be in the title race.
Online Reporter