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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
IT’S dog eat dog in the Premier Soccer League which enters the home straight this weekend with some clubs fighting for survival while others want to keep their title hopes alive.
The championship race has come down to three clubs – Dynamos, ZPC Kariba and Caps United who have an outside chance of claiming the most coveted domestic football silverware.

What further makes the weekend fixtures even more exciting is the fact that, save for the three clubs that are in the title race, the rest are mathematically fighting relegation.

Three more clubs will join already relegated Chiredzi FC on their way to the unfashionable Division One Soccer League.

Triangle United who are fourth from the bottom with 27 points can only finish their campaign with 42 points in the event that they win all their remaining matches and it’s only Dynamos (49), ZPC Kariba (47) and Caps United (45) who are above the 42 points drop-zone.

These statistics will leave even the clubs that are chasing a top-four finish shivering as they are faced with a reality of sliding into the murky relegation waters if they drop points and teams below them win their games.

A top four finish guarantees a club an opportunity to battle it out in the end-of-season Mbada Diamonds Cup, but the priority is to hit the 42-point mark to survive the chop.

This therefore means football enthusiasts should brace for top-drawer performances, as every team is driven by their own desire of collecting maximum points either to survive the axe or claim the championship.

Bantu Rovers who are seeking a dramatic escape from the chop face fifth from the bottom Shabanie Mine who have accumulated 29 points. They meet at Hartsfield Stadium this afternoon.

Bantu Rovers are second from the bottom with 21 points and remain hopeful.

“We haven’t thrown in the towel as yet because only the top three clubs are safe and that gives us hope to keep on fighting. We know Shabanie Mine are a good side and they face the same predicament as us, so it’ll be a good game,” said Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu, the Bantu Rovers coach.

Tshintsha Guluva are likely to pin their hopes on the experienced defensive duo of Zephaniah Ngodzo and Hebert Dick who is set to hang his boots at the end of the season, striker Obadiah Tarumbwa who scored the solitary goal when they beat Chiredzi FC 1-0 and Young Warriors’ Nqobizitha Masuku.

On the other hand, Shabanie Mine will not be pushovers and are braced for a demanding game.

Jairos Tapera, Shabanie Mine’s coach said he has a full-strength squad with only Zvenyika Makonese who has recovered from a bout of malaria being a doubtful starter.

“Our game against Bantu Rovers will be a difficult one in the sense that being a development side they are not that worried about being relegated because they are after giving their players experience. That sort of takes pressure away from them and what we simply have to do is to concentrate throughout the game, give it our best and try to grab a positive result,” Tapera said.

Bantu Rovers’ youngsters that Shabanie Mine should keep an eye on include Teenage Hadebe, Bukhosi “Zakhu” Sibanda, Tafadzwa Kutinyu and Denzil Khumalo.

Seasoned defender Smart Muchabaiwa, on-loan Highlanders midfielder Douglas Sibanda, Rodney Mware, Carlos Mesi and goalkeeper Victor Twaliki are expected to guide Shabanie through to victory.

The miners had a week long stay-away from the pitch protesting over bonuses and allowances.

At Mandava Stadium, ZPC Kariba faces a stern test from FC Platinum who are after a top four finish this afternoon.

A slip by ZPC Kariba will be a blessing for Dynamos who will only be in action tomorrow when they play host to Chapungu.

Tomorrow, injury-hit Highlanders will be involved in a local derby with Chicken Inn hoping to end their four-match winless streak.

Bosso will be without vice-captain Erick Mudzingwa who has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury, Webster Chingodza who broke his toe, Gabriel Nyoni (hamstring) while Bruce Kangwa who had a deep cut on his head is doubtful.

These injuries have left Highlanders coach Mark Mathe fretting.

“In as much as we would’ve wanted these key players to play for us, we’ve to move on and see to it that we rise from our slumber. Everyone is alarmed by the spell that we’re under and they’ve been working hard to make sure that we get that morale boosting win,” said Mathe.

Bosso should expect a tight game from Chicken Inn who they played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

With bragging rights and a top four finish at stake, an exciting game is on the cards.

The Gamecocks have their captain Danny “Deco” Phiri, Brian Juru, young Lawrence Mhlanga, evergreen Brian Mbiriri, ex-Highlanders striker Mkhokheli Dube and former Soccer Star of the Year Clemence Matawu to bank on for tomorrow’s encounter.

Joey Antipas, Chicken Inn’s coach is wary of Bosso.

“Highlanders are wounded lions and they’d want to end their bad spell on us but we’re ready for them. We respect them but it’s going to be a tight game as we’re looking for a strong finish and they’re targeting a top four finish,” said Antipas.

Fixtures
Today: Bantu Rovers v Shabanie Mine (Hartsfield), Black Rhinos v Hwange (Rimuka, 3PM SuperSport), FC Platinum v ZPC Kariba (Mandava)

Tomorrow: Buffaloes v Harare City (Sakubva), Triangle United v Caps United (Gibbo), Dynamos v Chapungu (Rufaro, 3PM SuperSport), Highlanders v Chicken Inn (Hartsfield)

Remaining Castle Lager Premier League Fixtures
Week 27: Hwange v Highlanders, Caps United v FC Platinum, Harare City v Dynamos, ZPC Kariba v Buffaloes, Shabanie Mine v How Mine, Chapungu v Bantu Rovers, Chicken Inn v Triangle, Chiredzi v Black Rhinos

Week 28: Highlanders v Chiredzi, Dynamos v Bantu Rovers, Harare City v ZPC Kariba, Buffaloes v Caps United, Triangle v Hwange, How Mine v Chapungu, FC Platinum v Chicken Innn, Black Rhinos v Shabanie Mine

Week 29: Shabanie Mine v Highlanders, Hwange v FC Platinum, Caps United v Harare City, ZPC Kariba v Dynamos, bantu Rovers v How Mine, Chicken Inn v Buffaloes, Chiredzi v Triangle, Chapungu v Black Rhinos

Week 30: Dynamos v How Mine, Buffaloes v Hwange, ZPC Kariba v Caps United, Highlanders v Chapungu, Harare City v Chicken Inn, FC Platinum v Chiredzi, Black rhinos v Bantu Rovers, Triangle v Shabanie Mine

Results
Yesterday: How Mine 0-0 Chiredzi