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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
IT’S like déjà vu for the other 15 Premiership teams as Dynamos look poised to secure a fifth consecutive title if the standings by the midseason mark are anything to go by.

In the last two seasons, the Harare giants got to the halfway on position three and went for the kill in the last stanza.

In 2012, Dynamos were second on 30 points and were on 28 points in 2013.

This time around, the defending champions are third with 27 points; the same number they had amassed last season when they trailed then table-toppers Highlanders by three points.

DeMbare have proved to be strong finishers and the million dollar question football enthusiasts will be asking is, will they be able to beat pacesetters Chicken Inn and second placed Triangle United?

At the weekend, Dynamos picked a valuable point by drawing 1-1 with Hwange, and in the process eased pressure on coach David Mandigora, (pictured left) who has been a subject of ridicule in some sections of the club.

Despite managing to keep the champions within title reach, some DeMbare supporters have continued to question Mandigora’s capabilities.

What could be of interest is that Dynamos lost just two games in the opening half while Chicken Inn and Triangle have each been beaten three times.

The Harare giants are two points behind Joey Antipas’ Chicken Inn, who are waiting for the Premiership verdict on their abandoned game against Dongo Sawmill a fortnight ago.

Relegation favourites Dongo Sawmill were down 0-1 just after the hour mark when Chicken Inn goalkeepers’ coach Julius Ndlovu allegedly assaulted the visitors’ medic. Dongo Sawmill then refused to continue with the game, citing security issues.

The Gamecocks are likely to be given maximum points for that game, moving them five points ahead of Dynamos.

Chicken Inn succumbed to their third defeat of the season, going down 0-2 to Caps United at the National Sports Stadium at the weekend.

Antipas felt the match officials aided the Green Machine to victory by denying his side a penalty, and that Caps United’s second goal was from an offside position.

Nevertheless, Chicken Inn are proud of their first half performance, with Antipas forecasting a tough second half.

“So far so good! I’m happy with how we’ve performed in the first half and we hope to continue on that path. It won’t be easy because most teams would have beefed up their sides, but we’re ready for the challenge. It’s going to be an exciting finish and it’s still anybody’s game. We can’t be talking about the championship now because it’s still early days. The last five games will decide the title,” said Antipas.

Kelvin Kaindu’s Triangle have been free scoring, netting 31 times.

Most teams have found the Eastern Lowveld side hard to beat and Kaindu is happy with his team’s performances.

Triangle will not be doing much business during the mid-season transfer window.

“I’m very happy with the first half performance of my team and what pleases me more is that we’ve managed to surpass the scoring record of the past three seasons. I’m comfortable with the squad I have and I’m one person who doesn’t believe in making changes during the mid-season window. We’ll make one or two additions,” said Kaindu.

It is Highlanders, who have been the biggest disappointment to their followers.

The Bulawayo giants had since 2012 reached the halfway stage sitting on top of the table, but this season they are a lowly ninth with a paltry 20 points off 15 games.

Bosso have five wins, five draws and five losses.

Their victories were mostly against newly promoted sides, Tsholotsho, Dongo Sawmill, Flame Lily and Whawha. The only seasoned campaigners Bosso overcame were Hwange.

Statistically, the Bulawayo giants are slowly sliding into relegation zone and could find themselves in the murky waters should they lose their next two games against Triangle and Dynamos.

Even though coach Bongani Mafu insists that Highlanders are still within title reach, reality points that they are much closer to the drop zone than the championship chasing teams.

In fact, Bosso are six points above fourth from bottom placed Tsholotsho and trail Chicken Inn by nine points.

On the evidence of their performances at Barbourfields Stadium this season, the fading Bulawayo giants will need a miracle to catch up with the title-chasing pack, as they will have to win at least three matches on the trot while the leading teams lose an equal number of games.

On the relegation side, in the last three seasons the bottom three teams have been relegated with the fourth escaping the chop.

Dongo Sawmill, Whawha and Flame Lily are relegation favourites while Tsholotsho, who are fourth from the bottom with 14 points, could escape the chop if their performance is anything to go by.

Tsholotsho FC beat ZPC Kariba 1-0 in Kariba and can push the power men into the drop zone if they complete a double at White City Stadium this week.

Former Zimbabwe international Joel Luphahla, who came out of retirement, scored the solitary goal for Tsholotsho.

In a bid to strengthen their side, Tsholotsho also registered former national team utility player Danisa Phiri, who also featured for 80 minutes against ZPC Kariba where he played behind the strikers.

ZPC Kariba and Hwange are tied on 15 points and neither is safe from relegation together with Buffaloes on 16 points.

The first half of the season review would not be complete without mentioning match officials who have hogged the limelight for bad reasons.

Almost all the PSL teams have raised complaints against inept officiating, which saw some unlucky referees being suspended in recent weeks.

PSL Week 15 results

Saturday: ZPC Kariba 0-1 Tsholotsho FC, Flame Lily 0-0 Harare City, Chapungu 0-0 FC Platinum

Sunday: Caps United 2-0 Chicken Inn, Dongo Sawmill 1-0 Whawha, Hwange 1-1 Dynamos, Highlanders 1-1 Triangle United, Buffaloes 1-1 How Mine