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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
IT all started with Highlanders in 2001, followed by Caps United in 2005 then Dynamos in 2012 and six years later this afternoon, it will be FC Platinum who will receive the Premiership trophy back-to-back.

They become only the fourth PSL club to lift the championship trophy on two consecutive years.

Pure Platinum will this afternoon, after their home league match against Ngezi Platinum at Mandava Stadium be presented with the winners’ medals as well as the imposing championship trophy which goes with a cheque of $75 000.

“The Castle Lager PSL Championship Trophy will be presented to FC Platinum after their match against Ngezi Platinum at Mandava Stadium on Saturday 17 November 2018.

“The runners-up, Ngezi Platinum will also be presented with their silver medals during the same occasion,” said the PSL in a statement released early this week.

Despite the match being a ‘dead rubber’ the bragging rights within the mining community will be there to fight for and FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza, odds on favourite to be voted as the 2018 Coach of the Year during the Stars selection next week, has already made it clear that after the confirmation of their championship position, the next objective is to reach the 80 points mark.

It does not need a rocket scientist to know what that means, especially with two games before the season ends and his charges sitting on 74 points heading into today’s match which had it not been a shocking decision to fire Tonderayi Ndiraya by the Ngezi Platinum leadership with just five games to go, would have been befittingly code named ‘Armageddon’.

It is FC Platinum’s last home game before they welcome Malagasy side CNaps on December 5, unless the Super Cup against Triangle United is held there.

While there will be the coronation of the local football kings at Mandava, it will be an uneasy and uncertain weekend for four teams who are all eager to avoid the axe that has already hit Shabanie Mine, Mutare City and Bulawayo City.

Nichrut, Chapungu, Bulawayo Chiefs and Yadah are all in the race for survival and will be in action tomorrow.

Nichrut take on Chibuku Super Cup winners Triangle United at Gibbo Stadium, Chapungu play host to Yadah while Bulawayo Chiefs lock horns with Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium.