Relegation fight…Fate is in our hands: Sweswe Lizwe Sweswe
Lizwe Sweswe

Lizwe Sweswe

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
TSHOLOTSHO FC coach Lizwe Sweswe believes their Premier Soccer League fate is in their hands following a drastic turn of events on Saturday that saw them move just a place above the drop zone.

The Zhwane Boys condemned Whawha to the unfashionable Division One League on Saturday by edging the Gweru-based prison warders 1-0 to leapfrog Buffaloes, who lost by a similar scoreline at home to Hwange. Tsholotsho sit on position 12, tied on 26 with Buffaloes, who occupy the last chop zone spot with four matches remaining.

All remaining matches for Tsholotsho, Buffaloes and Flame Lily, who still have an outside chance of surviving relegation, are tricky, meaning that any team that drops points at this stage among the three is in danger of being chopped.

“The good thing is that every match that the relegation threatened clubs will play will be against clubs that have something to play for.

“I think for us, everything is in our hands and no matter how tricky or tough our remaining opponents are, the most important thing is to win those games.

“We can’t afford to let go of the place we occupy now and we’ll fight till the last whistle of the season to protect our position,” said Sweswe.

Tsholotsho’s next game is an away trip to Hwange and they have to be at their best to defeat Chipangano.

Hwange are on position five and are targeting a top four finish, making Tsholotsho’s trip a bit tricky. The two teams drew 1-1 in the first leg, but Sweswe is confident that they can snatch three points at the Colliery.

After playing Hwange, Tsholotsho will be at home against league leaders Chicken Inn, who beat them 1-0 in the first leg, followed by another Bulawayo derby against Highlanders.

Having lost to Bosso through a Teenage Hadebe fluke goal in the first leg, Tsholotsho, who were by far better than Highlanders on that day, would fancy their chances of stealing a victory against the fading Bulawayo giants.

Tsholotsho’s last game will be against Harare City, a side that they beat 1-0 in the opening match of the season through a Simbarashe Gorogodyo goal.

On the weekend that Tsholotsho travel to Hwange, Buffaloes will be in Bulawayo to face Highlanders, who are aware that successive defeats can land them in the murky waters.

Bosso are hoping to salvage the little pride left by winning their remaining games to move up the ladder, and Buffaloes should therefore prepare for a tough encounter.

Tsholotsho will be backing Bosso to do them a favour by beating Buffaloes so that they remain above the army side.

On Week 28 Buffaloes will be at home against ZPC Kariba, who beat them 2-5 in the first leg, followed by a trip to the Eastern Lowveld for a date with Triangle United. They wrap up their season with a home tie against Dynamos.

Just like Tsholotsho and Buffaloes, Flame Lily will have to work to avoid relegation.

Flame Lily are at home to title contenders FC Platinum in their next game. Following their 1-1 draw against Dynamos, Flame Lily will fancy their slim chances of survival by disturbing FC Platinum’s championship charge.

Their next games will be against How Mine in Bulawayo, Whawha in Gweru and Chicken Inn at home.

Looking at all the three relegation threatened sides, they have an equal chance of escaping the chop and it will be a question of which team will fight harder to retain their PSL place by causing upsets along the way.

Remaining fixtures for relegations teams

Tsholotsho FC: Hwange (away), Chicken Inn (home), Highlanders (away), Harare City (home)

Buffaloes: Highlanders (away), ZPC Kariba (home), Triangle United (away), Dynamos (home)

Flame Lily: FC Platinum (home), How Mine (away), Whawha (away), Chicken Inn (home)

Weekend results

Saturday: Tsholotsho FC 1-0 Whawha, Harare City 2-2 How Mine, Flame Lily 1-1 Dynamos

Sunday: Dongo Sawmill 1-4 ZPC Kariba, Buffaloes 0-1 Hwange

Week 26 fixtures

Tomorrow: Chapungu v Highlanders (Ascot), Chicken Inn v FC Platinum (Luveve)

Sunday: Caps United v Triangle United (National Sports Stadium, SuperSport, 3PM)

 

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