Zimpapers Logo

Kenny Ndebele

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
CONTENDERS for the Castle Lager Premier League title and teams fighting relegation will only play at the same time towards the end of the season, a senior official said yesterday.With the league race reaching its home straight, there has been fears of manipulation especially in games involving teams that are already out of the league title or relegation race.

Premiership chief executive officer Kennedy Ndebele said they were following the league programme closely and looking at the points permutations as the league inches towards a close.

“At the moment we really don’t see any reason to have teams playing at the same time. We will only do that when we are left with three or two matches but again that will depend on the points separating the affected teams,” he said.

Dynamos lead the table with 46 points followed by surprise packages ZPC (Kariba) who are on 44 points while Caps United are third on 42 points. Free falling Bulawayo giants Highlanders are fourth with 39 points and will be hoping for a change of fortunes when a new coach takes over from Kelvin Kaindu.

At the bottom of the standings, Chiredzi are the table anchors with just 14 points, four points behind Bantu Rovers who themselves are eight and nine points behind Shabanie Mine and Black Rhinos who occupy the last relegation slots.

With Bulawayo’s stadiums being renovated for the December African Union Sports Council Region Five Under-20 Games, the issue of venues might also be a hindrance to have matches played at the same time.

“Four Bulawayo teams are sharing Hartsfield Stadium and suppose they are all at home, how then do we have them playing at the same time, it’s not feasible,” said Ndebele.

The championship race though might be a preserve of the three Harare teams Dynamos, ZPC Kariba and Caps United as Highlanders seem to have given up the challenge following their 3-1 massacre by the electricity men on Sunday.

Highlanders’ sudden loss of form has surprised many.

At one time Bosso were 15 points ahead of a then struggling Harare City but now find themselves just five points ahead of the Masimba Dinyero coached Sunshine boys.