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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
THE race for the final top four slot in the Castle Lager Premier League will go right to the wire as three teams are in the running to finish fourth ahead of the last games of the season this weekend.
Ngezi Platinum Stars occupy fourth position with 52 points, followed by Highlanders who are a point behind. Triangle United are also in the mix as they sit on 50 points.
For Ngezi and Bosso, a top four finish would be a consolation in a season where they failed to mount a strong challenge for the championship.
Triangle survived a player exodus to force their way into the reckoning for a top-four spot.
For Highlanders, finishing in the top four a feat they last achieved in 2016 would be quite an achievement. The teams will wrap up their campaigns on Saturday with Triangle travelling to Bulawayo for a date with Chicken Inn at Luveve Stadium.
It will not be an easy assignment for the Sugar boys as the Gamecocks will also be hoping to collect maximum points to consolidate second position. FC Platinum have already won the league while Chicken Inn and Dynamos are racing for second place.
Chicken Inn are in second position with 59 points while Dynamos are third with 57 points. Triangle will need to be at their best to get maximum points.
At the same time, Ngezi Platinum will host the already relegated Whawha at Baobab Stadium. Highlanders play their last game of the season away against Harare City at the National Sports Stadium.
Bosso coach Baltemar Brito says they will fight till the end.
“Of course we are thinking about next season. Even on Sunday we gave the opportunity to some youngsters and our fringe players to understand if they are capable or not. We were assessing them if they have capacity for next season’s project but we still have a job to do.
“We are not done with this season and we have to be professional and be competitive to the last minute of the season. Our main focus is preparing for the next match. We need to be serious till the end of this season,” said Brito.
At the bottom of the table, Harare City joined Tenax and Whawha as officially relegated while Bulawayo City now need a miracle in their last match of the season away to Black Rhinos at Vengere Stadium.
Amakhosi, beaten 2-1 by Harare City at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday need to win and score an excess of 10 goals in their last game against Chauya Chipembere, something which looks impossible.
At the same time, ZPC Kariba will host Herentals at Nyamhunga Stadium hoping they don’t lose by a huge margin as any positive result gained solidifies they stay in the topflight league.
Mathematically, Bulawayo City who are on 33 points have a chance of survival but the odds are heavily stacked against them. — @innocentskizoe
Online Reporter