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Ricky Zililo
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League action enters its final third this weekend with top-drawer encounters lined up. What makes the weekend games even more interesting is the fact that there are two big derbies involving championship chasing teams while other clubs fight relegation.The biggest blockbuster of the weekend is in Harare where defending champions and log leaders Dynamos will take on long time rivals Caps United on Sunday at Rufaro Stadium.

While Dynamos and Caps United will be battling it out for supremacy in the capital, in Bulawayo, city giants Highlanders will be away to How Mine at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

Dynamos shot to the top of the log last week following their 3-1 win over second placed Harare City and a victory against a rejuvenated Caps United that has gone for 10 games without losing, will take their points tally to 41 after 21 matches.

Caps United are fourth on the log with 35 points and a victory for the Green Machine will take them to level with Dynamos on 38 points.
Ironically, Dynamos was the last club to hand Caps United a defeat on 19 May when they beat them 1-0 courtesy of a strike from the penalty spot by Devon Chafa.

Chafa has since been suspended from all football activities by Fifa after the midfielder allegedly failed a doping test. After that defeat, Caps United went on to register a 10-match unbeaten run winning five matches, playing to five draws and in the process collecting 20 points out of a possible 30.

During their fine run, Caps United’s victories were against Hwange who they beat 2-0, identical 2-1 scorelines against FC Platinum, Highlanders and Monomotapa and their last week’s 3-0 massacre of Tripple B. The Green Machine played draws against Tripple B in the first leg, Monomotapa, Highlanders, Hwange and FC Platinum.

Dynamos on its part have after their first leg clash with Caps United amassed 20 points out of a possible 30 with six wins, two draws against Harare City and Black Rhinos.

The defending champions lost two matches 2-3 away to Buffaloes in Mutare and 0-1 to How Mine in Bulawayo.
Dynamos’ victories were against Motor Action (2-0), Black Rhinos (2-0), How Mine (3-0), Buffaloes (1-0), Motor Action (1-0) and 3-1 over Harare City.

So, with both Harare clubs having managed to get 20 points since their last meeting, it will be interesting to see who will bag the three points on Sunday.

Second placed Harare City who are tied on 38 points with Dynamos travel to the Lowveld for a tricky date with Triangle whose last defeat at home was a 0-1 loss to Caps United on 12 May.

In the first leg, Harare City beat Triangle 2-0 in the capital and Triangle who are on position 10 with 26 points will be out for revenge.
In Bulawayo, How Mine will play host to Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

The Bulawayo giants who lost the first leg 1-2 will be hoping to turn the tables on the gold miners and if statistics are anything to go by, then Highlanders are tipped to collect maximum points.

In that match, veteran defender Hebert Dick scored for both teams, first beat his goalkeeper Pedzisai Gumiremhete before equalising on the stroke of half time. Former Highlanders striker Nqobile Mpala then got the winning goal for How Mine.

After their Bosso victory, How Mine failed to live up to their billing as they only managed two wins – 1-0 against Dynamos and 2-1 over Chicken Inn. They went on to lose six games and played two draws with Triangle and Black Mambas in the process picking eight points out of a possible 30.
It was during their eight-match bad spell that they fired coach Philani Mabhena and replaced him with his assistant Philani ‘Beefy’ Ncube.

Ncube has been in charge of the miners for two games, beating Chicken Inn 2-1 and a goalless draw against Black Mambas.
Highlanders who are third on the table with 37 points managed to recover from their shock defeat against How Mine as they garnered 17 points in their last 10 matches.

Bosso are hard pressed for a victory and they are aware that a defeat will dent their championship hopes.
The Bulawayo giants have what it takes to collect the maximum points from the miners on Sunday.

In the relegation battle, third from the bottom with 21 points after 20 games Hwange take on Tripple B who are on position 15 with 17 points at Dulibadzimu Stadium on Saturday while log anchors Motor Action travel to Zvishavane for a date with Shabanie Mine.

Fixtures

Saturday: Chicken Inn v Black Rhinos (Luveve), Tripple B v Hwange (Dulibadzimu), Shabanie Mine v Motor Action (Maglas)
Sunday: How Mine v Highlanders (Barbourfields), Dynamos v Caps United (Rufaro), Triangle v Harare City (Gibbo), FC Platinum v Monomotapa (Mandava)
Monday: Black Mambas v Buffaloes (Morris Depot)

Log Standing

P    W    D    L    F    A    Pts
Dynamos    20    10    8    2    28    11    38
Harare City    20    11    5    4    31    15    38
Highlanders    20    11    4    5    30    16    37
Caps United    20    10    5    5    29    19    35
FC Platinum    20    9    6    5    24    18    33
Chicken Inn    20    9    4    7    23    23    31
Buffaloes    20    9    1    10    32    33    28
How Mine    20    8    4    8    20    23    28
Shabanie Mine    20    8    3    9    20    24    27
Triangle    20    7    5    8    22    24    26
Black Mambas    20    8    2    10    19    25    26
Black Rhinos    20    5    7    8    21    28    22
Monomotapa    20    6    4    10    21    31    22
Hwange    20    5    6    9    19    21    21
Tripple B    20    4    5    11    17    30    17
Motor Action    20    3    5    12    13    27    14