Zimpapers Logo

Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter

WITH Chicken Inn conspiring to put up a stinker every weekend, the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title race is shaping up into a two-horse race pitting defending champions FC Platinum and Dynamos.

Six points separate the two sides on the log standings with 24 points still to play for. FC Platinum sit on top of the table with 55 points , Dynamos are in second position with 49 points.

Chicken Inn, who up to now have been viewed as top challengers for the title, are dropping crucial points with each passing weekend.

The GameCocks registered their second consecutive defeat when they fell 1-2 to visiting Ngezi Platinum.

Prior to that they had lost 1-2 Black Rhinos. The gap between them and FC Platinum is now 10 points and it will take a miracle for Chicken Inn to reduce the deficit. 

The GameCocks, who were favourites at the beginning of the season, started the race well as they went on an eight-game unbeaten run, winning six and managing two stalemates. 

Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas is convinced injuries are the reason the wheels have come off.

“To come up with results you have to defend well, put your body on the line, which is what we are not doing. We have to go back, sit down and see what we can do about it. 

The defence is letting us down for some games now. We have been chopping and changing due to suspensions and injuries. Which is not working for us. We can’t play with a similar back four for two consecutive games. We have to do something urgently because this is going to cost us,” said Antipas.

When the season commenced, the GameCocks had a back-three, consisting of Itai Mabunu, Moses Jackson and Nelson Ketala. The wingbacks were Xolani Ndlovu on the left and Michael Charamba on the right side.

Their central midfield was occupied by new acquisition Richard Hachiro, who formed the base with Shepherd Mhlanga, while Bret Amidu played behind the strike force duo of Malvin Hwata and Brian Muza.

However, injuries to the likes of Hachiro, Charamba, Mabunu and Mhlanga in the duration of the campaign have meant Antipas has had to rotate players almost weekly.

They brought in defender Vincent Moyo from Bulawayo City in the mid-season transfer window. He has been partnering Ketala in defence but the team continues to let in goals.

After matchday 26, Highlanders were the biggest movers on the table as they found a place inside the top four.

Bosso registered a 2-3 triumph over Yadah at the National Sports Stadium on Friday, their first away victory since July 2018.

They leapfrogged Manica Diamonds and Herentals.

Manica Diamonds were beaten 2-0 by log leaders FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium while at the National Sports Stadium, Herentals played out a 1-1 draw with Caps United.

Herentals are now a point behind Highlanders while Manica Diamonds now trail Bosso by two points. 

In the nine matches that Brito has presided over as Highlanders coach, he has won five, drawn three and lost one.

Highlanders have found the target 15 times while their defence has been breached nine times, with the goal difference under Brito being plus six, an indication that there has been some positive change since the arrival of Brito.

Results

Tenax 0-2 ZPC Kariba

Triangle United 3-0 Bulawayo City

Bulawayo Chiefs 1-0 Black Rhinos

Dynamos 2-1 Harare City

Cranborne Bullets 3-1 Whawha

Chicken Inn 1-2 Ngezi Platinum

Caps United 1-1 Herentals

FC Platinum 2-0 Manica Diamonds

— @innocentskizoe