Online Reporter
Robson Sharuko
Metros Editor
CAN High-flying Hardrock join an exclusive group of clubs – Dynamos in ’63, Black Rhinos in ’84 and Scottland last year, which have won the domestic Premiership in their first season?
Can Scottland become the first club, in the post Covid-era, to defend the league championship?
Or can CAPS United become the first of the Big Three clubs to win the championship after a decade dominated by the new generation of challengers?
The Green Machine were the last member of the Big Three to be crowned champions when they won it in 2016.
DeMbare haven’t won it in a dozen years, Bosso haven’t won it in two decades.
With one game to play in the first half of the season, Hardrock, Scottland and CAPS United are locked at the top with 31 points.
They have created a two-point gap between them and the chasing pack.
Hardrock, though, have a game which will be decided in the boardroom after their battle against Dynamos was abandoned at Chahwanda.
CAPS United came out of the blocks faster than everyone but, last month, their plane hit turbulence, which is normal in this marathon.
They then found their winning touch against ZPC Kariba on Sunday.
The Green Machine became the first club this season to score more than two goals against ZPC Kariba.
They are only the third team to do so in the past twelve months.
FC Platinum, who hammered ZPC Kariba 4-0 on June 14, last year, and Herentals, who beat ZPC Kariba 3-0 on the final day of the season last year, are the other two clubs who have scored more than two goals against Katuruturu.
The victory, courtesy of a late penalty which was converted by Ishmael Wadi, ensured the Green Machine remained among the leading clubs in the marathon.
Scottland also won at the weekend, ending Herentals’ three-game winning streak with a 2-0 win in a tough battle, with in-form Knowledge Musona scoring his fourth goal in the last three games.
Hardrock posted the most impressive win with their comprehensive 3-0 victory over Simba Bhora at Chahwanda.
Last year, MWOS were in control of the championship race at this stage of the season.
But they collapsed in their visits to the capital and they finished seven points behind Scottland.
Lloyd Mutasa’s troops were beaten by Scottland, Dynamos and Yadah in Harare while they drew against CAPS United.
Their only away win, against a Harare club, came against Herentals on neutral soil at Wadzanai.
Will Hardrock fall into the same trap?
The Kwekwe side have visited the capital once this year and they were well beaten 0-2 by CAPS United at Rufaro.
They are coming to Harare for a date against Scottland at the weekend.
They will make further trips to the capital for games against Dynamos, Herentals and Hunters.
The loss against the Green Machine gave Hardrock a glimpse of the challenges that come with battles in the capital, something which crippled MWOS’ campaign last season.
They will get a very good idea of that challenge when they visit the capital at the weekend for a match which has the potential of having a huge bearing of the destiny of the championship.
Their away programme starts tomorrow with a visit to FC Platinum at Mandava.
And, in the second half of the season, they will also travel to face Highlanders, Ngezi, Agama and Chicken Inn.
Unlike CAPS United and Scottland, Hardrock do not have the luxury of playing some away games, at home, like what happens with those clubs which use Rufaro as their home.
All their way games are out of Kwekwe and 11 of their remaining 18 games will be away from home.
Scottland, who have only lost once in an away match since they arrived in the domestic Premiership last year, will only play five of their 17 away games out of Harare.
These will be matches against Ngezi, Highlanders, Simba Bhora, Triangle and ZPC Kariba.
Nine of Makepekepe’s remaining 18 games will be out of Harare.
They will travel to play Chicken Inn, Agama, Hardrock, Manica Diamonds, TelOne, Bulawayo Chiefs, MWOS, FC Platinum and ZPC Kariba.
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