Curtain comes down on CSL season John Nyikadzino
John Nyikadzino

John Nyikadzino

Lovemore Zigara in Gweru
THE curtain comes down on an eventful Central Soccer League (CSL) season tomorrow during which three teams will be battling for the sole ticket for promotion to the Premiership.

The 2017 CSL is arguably the most exciting and competitive season, as the championship will be decided during the last matches tomorrow.

Log leaders Nichrut, army side Tongogara and former Premiership side Whawha go into tomorrow’s final round of matches separated by just two points, meaning any of the three teams can nick the title.

Nichrut and Tongogara are tied on 73 points, but the former enjoy a healthy goal difference and just need to win their game to win the title and promotion.

Nichrut have a goal difference of 46 compared to army side Tongogara’s 36. Whawha are in third place with 71 points.

The only other time that the CSL was decided on the last day was when it was inaugurated in 2010. The promotion race then pitted Mimosa (now FC Platinum) and Chapungu.

The platinum miners needed a draw to be crowned champions and they were duly crowned after beating now defunct Hardbody 1–0.

Nichrut gaffer John Nyikadzino, whose side takes on Chrome Stars in Kwekwe, believes they have to do the job for themselves to be crowned CSL champions.

“The destiny is now in our hands and it is only us who should complete the job that we started. We just need to win it for ourselves and bring joy to the people of Shurugwi,” said Nyikadzino.

However, Nichrut should be wary of a possible hostile reception in Kwekwe where football fans might stand in unison with Chrome Stars to spoil the party for the Shurugwi-based side and give an advantage to Tongogara.

Tongagara are away to Ivan Hoe in a Kwekwe derby at Amaveni Stadium.

Kwekwe neutrals would prefer a Tongogara victory to bring Premiership football to the city for the first time since 2008 when Lancashire Steel were relegated.

Already conspiracy theories were awash during the course of the week after an army bus was hired to ferry fans to watch Ivan Hoe and Nichrut last week.

Ivan Hoe lost 0-2, but eyebrows were raised as to why Ivan Hoe would hire an army bus for their supporters when they are no longer in the race for the championship and more so when they would face their benefactors in the last game of the season.

Whawha, who have an outside chance of making a return to the Premiership, are away to Blanket Mine where they should win at all costs and pray that both Nichrut and Tongogara lose.

 Fixtures

Tomorrow: TelOne vs FC Platinum U19 (Wilson Fields), MSU vs Kwekwe Stars (MSU), Ivan Hoe vs Tongogara (Amaveni), Chrome Stars vs Nichrut (Chrome), ZRP Gwanda vs Border Strikers (Pelandaba), Makusha vs Black Eagles (Makusha), Blanket Mine vs Whawha (Blanket), ZPC Munyati vs Vumbachikwe (Munyati), Gwanda United vs Silo United (Pelandaba)

— @lavuzigara1

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