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Lovemore Dube Senior Sports Editor
BULAWAYO Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clubs are expected to have a huge say in the destiny of this year’s title.
They have been involved extensively on the market and have bought some of the biggest names on the domestic scene.
One thing that points to a good year for them is the reduction in the number of teams from Harare. Dynamos in the past dominated the local league because of many home “away” games. That meant the effects of travelling away to hostile environments were not felt that much and this had an effect of them saving resources to motivate their players.

Having to play Black Mambas, Monomotapa, Black Rhinos, Caps United, Motor Action, Gunners, Shooting Stars and Lengthens worked in their favour as even the “away” team tag would not work in those matches.

Dynamos would fill stadia at Gwanzura or Morris Depot or even at Motor Action Sports Club when they were visiting and it would even be worse at the ceremonial home of Zimbabwean football – Rufaro Stadium. This gave Dynamos the edge towards the title.

It was similar during the 1998 to 2003 years for Bulawayo clubs AmaZulu and Highlanders. The city had AmaZulu, Highlanders, Railstars, Njube Sundowns and Zimbabwe Saints. There were shorter trips to Gweru, Kwekwe, Masvingo, Hwange and Zvishavane which played to the clubs’ advantage and travelling to Bulawayo from as far as Harare and Mutare often provided a hostile environment.

Many will recall Zimbabwe Saints beating Dynamos, AmaZulu and Railstars holding the Glamour Boys while Highlanders would get the better of its neighbours.
How Mine, who started the season with an early promising show in Africa, have boosted their side. They have imported more quality which boasts of both raw talent and experience and have the right balance to cause a major scare in the league.

With Heritein Masuku, Benjamin Marere, George Magariro, Kuda Musharu, Donovan Bernard and Emmanuel Matiranga, Mlondolozi Nkomo and Alpha Matumbura, they have done well on the transfer market to demand good results from 2009 Coach of the Year Philani Ncube.

Gilbert Banda, Herbert Dick, Terrence Majo, Brighton Dube, Warren Dube and age defying Menard Mupera are some of the key players in the side.
Bantu Rovers have a sprinkling of junior players who include Teenage Hadebe, Nqola Masuku and Pride Zireni, youngsters who are still hungry for glory. Their performances will be expected to rise and push for a decent finish and claiming the scalps of their seasoned campaigners would go a long way in exposing them.

That one of their own Marvellous Nakamba is playing abroad and Kuda Mahachi is already on the books of Mamelodi Sundowns is enough motivation that the sky is the limit.

A top 10 finish would be good for Methembe Ndlovu’s charges who will have Zephaniah Ngodzo providing mature leadership.
Chicken Inn, with one of the best technical brains in the land, Joey Antipas, will be expected to gun for the title. They have not been vocal in the off-season opting to do their preparatory stuff far from the glare of the cameras and prying media. A lot is expected from them and they could have a big say in the destination of the title.

The Gamecocks lost Felix Chindungwe, Njabulo Nyoni and Kudakwashe Mahachi to Highlanders. They have, however, not been able to get replacements of equal measure and were further crippled when Zephaniah Ngodzo moved to Bantu Rovers.

They have, however, had some good players in their ranks in the last two years who include Brian Mbiriri, Mkhokheli Dube, Guide Goddard, Brian Juru, Thomas Chimenya, Thabani Goredema and Tendai Mukambi.

With the good financial backing they have enjoyed and a consistent management which is eager to cap a fine stay in power, Chicken Inn like How Mine and Highlanders will fancy their championship chances.

Bantu Rovers’ biggest challenge could probably be the fact that they were set to play Division One football until they decided to partner with Plumtree Chiefs.
But of all Bulawayo teams, the axe will be put to good use at Highlanders if results do not come early. The executive has done its best to get the coaching department quality players, the type that any coach would love to have. But Bosso’s biggest undoing was probably not doing itself any justice by having an honest introspection.

For two years the team has had no consistent right back, the anchorman’s job has been vacant as has been the centre foward’s. Surprisingly the good coaches turned a blind eye to that glaring observation made by coaches and fans alike, instead they appear to have decided to keep faith with players that they have developed a bond with, letting unfortunate Bhekimpilo Ncube, Masuku and Lawson Nkomo, a former club junior, go.

It is not loyalty to players one has kept for long that wins a coach trophies, but those that are hungry for success and want to scale greater heights.
Highlanders brought in Njabulo Nyoni, Mahachi and Chindungwe from Chicken Inn, underrated Valentine Ndaba from Shabanie, Welcome Ndiweni, Charles Sibanda and Khumbulani Banda from FC Platinum, making them one of the strongest clubs in the league.

Questions will be asked why Mkhululi Dube, 28, was signed and later loaned out when the club continues to turn a blind eye to its own juniors.
Milton Ncube, Rio Moyo and Munyaradzi Diya renewed their contracts with Highlanders making the club one of the odds-on favourites for the title.

It is the Bulawayo factor and the games in the City of Kings which should have a big say on where the title will nestle at the end of the year.
But the teams should be warned that names do not play but 11 committed and well drilled players at any given time are key to any team’s aspirations and dreams of supporters.

There is no denying that from outside Bulawayo, Dynamos will be big favourites and that FC Platinum and Caps United will have a big shout.
Trips to Chiredzi and Triangle will have an impact as would be the treacherous one to Kariba when ZPC eventually decide to move to the resort town when their stadium has been renovated.

When the season ended, Nation Dube’s Hwange FC appeared to be good work in progress.