Title defence won’t be easy — Antipas

need to work hard in defence of their title.
The Mighty Bulls, who have a tough date against FC Platinum tomorrow, managed to on cling on to pole position for the third week running despite dropping four points in their last two matches.
They drew against Chicken Inn and Zimbabwe Saints.
Motor Action failed to stretch their lead at the top despite their nearest rivals Chicken Inn and FC Platinum faltering in recent weeks. The champions are tied on 18 points with newcomers Chicken Inn, whose pedigree to compete the whole course, however, still need to be ascertained despite the promise they have shown.
Dark horses Highlanders marched to within a point of the leaders following a 1-0 win, in a difficult match for Bosso, over a luckless Green Machine at Barbourfields on Sunday. Unlike last year when it was a two-horse race between Dynamos and Motor Action from the start to finish, a number of teams have been in the picture in the early stages of the 2011 campaign.
So far, the top position has changed hands more than five times with CAPS United, Highlanders, Chicken Inn, Blue Ribbon and Motor Action all taking turns to sit at the summit just inside the first nine games.
“It’s much more difficult this season because last year it was more of ourselves and Dynamos competing for the top post with no serious threats since there was something like three or four points separating us from the rest of the teams.
“But it appears the competition is tough this year and I think it has to do with the quality of the clubs and the sponsorship.
“Look at how the clubs that were promoted this season are performing?
“FC Platinum, Chicken Inn and Blue Ribbon are all doing well probably because of the sponsorship behind them,” said Antipas.
The Mighty Bulls had a tight grip on the destiny of the championships last season on their way to their maiden championship title, with the only credible competition coming from Dynamos.
They had seven wins, one draw and a defeat at this stage last year while Dynamos had just pipped them into the front seat with eight straight wins and a game in hand.
Shabanie Mine were in third place with 19 points while Gunners completed the top four with 15 points. But after the same number of games this year, only one point separates the top four. Second-placed Chicken Inn and FC Platinum, who dropped into fourth position, cancelled out each other in a 1-1 draw at Maglas courtesy of goals from Benjamin Marere and Daniel Zokoto. Motor Action were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Saints on the same day. They had to come from behind with a Tawanda Nyamandwe strike after Ntokozo Tshuma had surged the visitors ahead.
“It was a very tight affair. Saints have a mixture of veterans and useful players who can stretch any team to the limits. They gave us a good run.
“It was a good game but we have to take the positives from that and work on our shortcomings in strikeforce and our concentration levels at the back,” said Antipas.
But Highlanders were the biggest gainers as they reinforced their argument as title favourites this season with the big scalp of traditional rivals CAPS United at Barbourfields.
Captain Gilbert Banda scored the solitary goal, in the last minute of the game, which handed Bosso maximum points.
Throughout the first half, Bosso played second fiddle as CAPS United attacked from all angles with the lively Simba Sithole missing a good chance when one-on-one with ‘keeper Lovemore Makwavarara.
Bosso came from the breather a better side but Sithole was again presented with the best chance, after ghosting behind the defence, but – with only Makwavarara to beat, he flicked over the bar from two metres. Highlanders are yet to concede a goal at Barbourfields this season in the league and they moved into third place and are now tied on 17 points with FC Platinum.
“I am happy about the result but CAPS really gave us good competition. It was a tough game because they played very well.
“But we are not worried much about many things because we just want to keep improving our game. I know we haven’t reached the standards we want to as yet,” said Masuku.
CAPS slipped two places down the ladder and are now are now sixth with 14 points after collecting only one point from their last three matches. Luke Masomere’s Masvingo United moved into fifth place after beating Shooting Stars 2-0 at Mucheke on Sunday to maintain their unbeaten record at home. But pressure continued to mount on Dynamos and Gunners as goals again proved elusive in a goalless draw at Rufaro on Sunday. DeMbare remained eighth on the table with 12 points while Gunners moved one place up to 14th.
Fixtures
Zimbabwe Saints v Gunners (White City), Shabanie Mine v Dynamos (Maglas), Shooting Stars v Monomotapa (Gwanzura), Black Mambas v Masvingo United (Morris Depot), Blue Ribbon v Kiglon (Rufaro), CAPS United v Hwange (National Sports Stadium), Chicken Inn v Highlanders (Luveve), Motor Action v FC Platinum (Motor Action Sports Club).