Online Reporter
Lawrence Moyo
NEWCOMERS, Hardrock moved top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League for TWO HOURS on Saturday before champions Scottland reclaimed pole position under floodlights.
The drama at the top on Saturday sets the stage for a photo finish, a title race of small margins with five rounds of matches remaining.
Scottland are dreaming of becoming the first club to win back-to-back titles in their opening two years in the Premiership.
Last season’s race promised fireworks but fizzled out towards the end as then defending champions, Simba Bhora, collapsed and eventually finished third.
This season it is the opposite as Hardrock have been piling on pressure with crucial and big wins since the beginning of August.
Hardrock are aiming to emulate Scottland and win the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League in their debut season.
Scottland coach, Norman Mapeza, on Saturday conceded playing AGAMA under pressure after surrendering the top position on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table to rivals, Hardrock.
Hardrock snatched a crucial win over Highlanders at Barbourfields, an hour before champions Scottland hosted AGAMA under floodlights at the National Sports Stadium.
Golden Boot favourite, Washington Navaya, scored the solitary goal that secured a rare win against heavyweights for Kelvin Kaindu’s Hardrock.
Navaya had been withdrawn from the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final against Scottland at Rufaro on Wednesday following a head injury and seemed doubtful for the trip to his former club.
Not only did he recover, he made it to the starting XI and scored the crucial goal.
Highlanders had won the reverse fixture at Chahwanda 1-0 adding to Hardrock’s poor league results against Scottland, CAPS United and Dynamos.
With Highlanders having beaten Scottland 1-0 at Barbourfields – one of only two teams to have beaten Mapeza so far in the league – Hardrock secured probably their biggest win of the campaign so far.
The result at B/F pushed newcomers Hardrock to the summit of the log standings, two points above Mapeza’s side.
It meant Scottland, who had been knocked out of the Chibuku Super Cup by Hardrock during midweek, had to win to reclaim pole position ahead of the international break.
Two quick goals by in-form midfielder, Mthokozisi Msebe, eased Scottland’s nerves although they fluffed numerous chances before settling for a 3-0 result.
Brazilian crowd favourite Anderson De Campos, making his second Premiership start for Scottland, scored his first goal in the second half to put the match beyond doubt.
Hardrock’s recent results suggest they are preparing for a scenario where the title race is decided on goal difference.
Kaindu twice missed out on the league title with Highlanders on inferior goal difference to Dynamos.
Now Hardrock have the best attack in the league with 51 goals from 29 matches and their goal difference has improved to plus 33, two less than Scottland.
Scottland have built their campaign on a solid defence and have conceded just 10 goals in 29 matches with goalkeeper Nelson Chadya setting a new Premiership record of 21 clean sheets on Saturday.
But they will need to be sharper on both ends as they take on dangerous opposition in form of relegation-threatened ZPC Kariba and Triangle away while facing stubborn Chicken Inn, CAPS United and Herentals in Harare in between.
Hardrock have tough trips to Dynamos and Simba Bhora while hosting Bulawayo Chiefs, MWOS and FC Platinum in the remaining five fixtures.
Currently Hardrock are chasing a historic treble in a debut Premiership season as they are also in the semi-finals of the Chibuku Super Cup and quarter-finals of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup.
Hardrock’s mid-season transfer window activities left them with a squad solid enough to handle the looming challenge.
Both teams look well equipped for the drama that lies ahead and the biggest question is “WHO WILL BLINK FIRST?”.
