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Erol Akbay

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS stretched their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League unbeaten run to nine-games, firing warning shots that they could be real championship contenders this season. The Bulawayo giants now enjoy a two-point lead over Caps United when they beat a stubborn ZPC Kariba 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium. Bosso, whose last defeat was in Week Two when they lost 1-2 to another championship contender FC Platinum at Barbourfields, have amassed 26 points from 11 matches, three points more than what defending champions Chicken Inn had at this stage last season. Since picking themselves up from that FC Platinum defeat, Bosso have won eight games and drawn twice to keep their title hopes alive.

For a side that last won the Premiership title in 2006, Highlanders’ performance under Dutch coach Erol Akbay has given their fans belief that 2016 could be their year. Before the halfway mark, Highlanders have managed to break “records”, first ending a 10-year league jinx against Dynamos, and then Adrian Silla’s solitary strike giving them their first ever PSL win over ZPC Kariba. In previous meetings with ZPC Kariba, Highlanders lost three out of the four games and drew once.

Beating ZPC Kariba, who came into the match on an eight-match unbeaten run, could have seen Bosso brushing aside the electricity generators from the championship race. Highlanders are bracing for a tough end of the first half of the season, with captain Felix Chindungwe, who has been in terrific form, leading a defence that has gone for four games without conceding, confident of collecting maximum points.

“We’re enjoying our game and everyone is starting to believe that maybe this could be our time. We’re not putting ourselves under unnecessary pressure by thinking about the championship race. What we’re simply doing is taking each game as it comes and see where we will be at the end of the season. However, we mustn’t lose focus, but continue taking each match at a time and try to make sure that we finish the first half of the season strongly,” said Chindungwe.

Highlanders’ next four games are away against Chicken Inn, followed by a home match against Triangle United before travelling to Manicaland for a date with Mutare City Rovers. Their Week 15 home game against Caps United will be a real test of their pedigree, as the Green Machine are also playing some entertaining football.

Caps United are second on the league table and have also had a bright start. They dismissed Bulawayo City 2-1 to take their points tally to 24, two behind Bosso. Lloyd Chitembwe seems to have transformed the Harare giants, who have gone for more than a decade without winning the league title. Besides Highlanders and Caps United, another side with potential to challenge for the title is FC Platinum.

The Zvishavane platinum miners beat Triangle United 2-0 at Mandava on Saturday and are third with 23 points from 10 games. FC Platinum have a game in hand against defending champions Chicken Inn, whose chances of retaining the title look to be slipping through their fingers.

Playing with 10 players for over 75 minutes after their defender Lawrence Mhlanga was shown a red card on Saturday, Chicken Inn went on to show great character by adding to Tsholotsho’s woes, beating them 1-0 at White City Stadium. Obidiah Tarumbwa scored Chicken Inn’s winner and they head to Hwange tomorrow for a midweek game against the coalminers oozing with confidence.

Hwange suffered a shock 0-1 home defeat to Mutare City and will be hoping to quickly recover from that loss by claiming Chicken Inn’s scalp. Another side making a steady rise is Dynamos. DeMbare registered their third consecutive victory at the weekend, beating Moses Chunga’s Harare City 2-0.

The result lifted Dynamos to fifth with 17 points, nine points behind Highlanders. If they continue with their purple patch, Dynamos may end the first half of the season within the top four, in the event that other teams above them falter.

Dynamos’ next game is against Bulawayo City at Barbourfields on Saturday. At the tail end, Border Strikers remained glued at the bottom following a 0-1 loss to Ngezi Platinum, while Tsholotsho FC moved 15th from 14th, swapping places with Mutare City Rovers.

Tsholotsho have gone for five games without a win, losing four and drawing 1-1 against How Mine in the process. Tsholotsho’s next assignment is an away trip to wounded Triangle United.

Results
Friday: Chapungu 2-2 How Mine

Saturday: Ngezi Platinum 1-0 Border Strikers, Harare City 0-2 Dynamos, Tsholotsho FC 0-1 Chicken Inn, FC Platinum 2-0 Triangle United

Sunday: Caps United 2-1 Bulawayo City, Highlanders 1-0 ZPC Kariba, Hwange 0-1 Mutare City Rovers