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Tadious Manyepo
Sports Reporter
COMPETITION in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League is heating up, with much expected from three epic battles out of six matches lined up for today.
It will be interesting for fans to watch results of matches between Highlanders and CAPS United at Barbourfields Stadium, Manica Diamonds and FC Platinum at Sakubva Stadium and Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum at Rufaro Stadium.
These six teams have been experiencing varying fortunes since the beginning of the season, with Dynamos, CAPS United and Ngezi Platinum seen as punching far below their weight, although they have a huge potential.
On the other hand, Highlanders, Manica Diamonds and FC Platinum have been doing fairly well to position themselves as serious contenders for the title in these early stages.
The other three matches this afternoon are between Green Fuel and Arenel Movers (Green Fuel Arena); Hwange and Herentals (Colliery Stadium); and Bulawayo Chiefs and Chegutu Pirates (Luveve Stadium).
Green Fuel will begin life without coach Rodwell Dhlakama when they host newcomers Arenel Movers.
Dhlakama was fired on Friday together with his assistant Darlington Dodo following the 3-0 defeat against CAPS United at Rufaro on Thursday.
Goalkeepers’ coach Innocent Chogugudza stayed behind and will be in charge today.
Taurai Mangwiro is tipped to takeover and has already advised the Green Fuel leadership that he would want to retain Chogugudza in his technical set-up.
For Highlanders, Lynoth Chikuhwa is expected to play a major role against CAPS United as he has been enjoying an explosive start to the current term and this could come in handy in propelling his team’s bid to finally win the league title for the first time in 18 years.
The Bosso striker has been rewarded with the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League’ Player of the Month for March following his outstanding display for the table-topping Bulawayo giants.
His gaffer, Kelvin Kaindu, was voted the Best Coach for the same month after he picked up three wins and a draw inside that period.
After labouring to just three goals in the entire term in 2023, Chikuhwa has already hit the net five times in seven matches, including three that he scored in March.
“I am very happy to have won the March Player of the Month. I am very grateful to the club and my teammates ,without whom I wouldn’t be talking of this great achievement,” said Chikuhwa.
“Football is a team sport and having the kind of colleagues that I have at Highlanders is a true blessing. The season has started well not only for me, but also for everyone associated with Highlanders, including our supporters.”
Chikuhwa was out on suspension when Highlanders surrendered a two-goal advantage to settle for a 2-2 draw against Herentals at Rufaro Stadium on Wednesday.
On the other hand, CAPS United are walking with a spring in their step following a thumping 3-0 victory over Green Fuel recorded at Rufaro Stadium on Thursday.
“We are really in a good space as CAPS United after this victory over Green Fuel. Our next match against Highlanders will obviously be tough, very tough,” said coach Lloyd Chitembwe.
“Highlanders is a big team and we should be very organised in terms of how we play when we go there. We have had this boost and we hope we will carry ourselves well in the match against Highlanders.”
It will be interesting to watch a match featuring two of the most exciting youngsters in the league so far — Junior Bunjira (20) of Makepekepe and Prince Ndlovu (18) of Bosso — who both have been pivotal for their teams in recent matches.
At Rufaro Stadium, Dynamos will host champions Ngezi Platinum amid reports that their duo of Tanaka Shandirwa and Donald Mudadi are playing with ankle injuries.
Shandirwa missed three of their matches, including the one against Chegutu Pirates on Thursday, while Mudadi, who has to play in a bandage and tape, missed one.
Also grounded is Shadreck Nyahwa, who picked up an injury on April 14 in a defeat by Simba Bhora at Wadzanayi Stadium.
FC Platinum will be aiming to stop Manica Diamonds from registering a fifth consecutive win this month, whose previous victories moved them to within a shouting distance of the log leaders.
FC Platinum’s unbeaten run ended during a midweek encounter when they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at home to ZPC Kariba.
That means all teams in this year’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign have suffered defeat going into Week 9.
Hwange look forward to moving off the basement of the league when they host unpredictable Herentals at the Colliery Stadium in a bottom-of-the-table clash, while Bulawayo Chiefs entertain newcomers Chegutu Pirates at Luveve Stadium.
Online Reporter