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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BOYS have been separated from men as the Premiership title race hots up, with Highlanders falling by the wayside following their 0-4 defeat by Caps United on Sunday.
The result has effectively left the championship contest a three-team affair involving defending champions Dynamos, league newcomers ZPC Kariba and Caps United.

Caps United inflicted a morale-sapping defeat, increasing Highlanders’ winless run to three.
Dynamos picked up maximum points on the road, beating Buffaloes 1-0 to take their points’ tally to 49, 10 ahead of Highlanders with five games remaining.

The question now many are asking is, “Who will stop Dynamos?”
From the look of things, no team can derail the Glamour Boys who look set to land their fourth consecutive Premiership title under Callisto Pasuwa.

Second placed ZPC Kariba (47) had on Saturday dismissed Triangle United by an identical scoreline while Caps United’s famous victory took them to 45 points.

Caps United’s clash with Bosso was the Premiership’s match of the weekend and the Green Machine managed to mete out revenge on Highlanders who had beat them 4-0 in the first leg in Bulawayo.

Having parted ways with Zambian Kelvin Kaindu a fortnight ago, expectations were high for Highlanders to put a better show at the National Sports Stadium but alas, the boys in black and white failed to rise from their second round slumber.

Stand-in Bosso coach Mark Mathe could have set a quick exit for himself with a number of positional changes that backfired. He benched skipper Ariel Sibanda preferring Njabulo Nyoni whose last competitive match was in Week 12 when Highlanders lost 0-1 to Dynamos in Harare.

Mathe also chose to deploy central defender Dumisani “Fazo” Ndlovu to rightback with Erick Mudzingwa partnering Felix Chindungwe in central defence. His biggest selection shock was that of Innocent Mapuranga playing as an anchorman.

There was no way that Mapuranga could have kept up with the pace of Tendai Samanja neither was Ndlovu going to be able to deal with Caps United’s speedy wingers. It did not come as a surprise when he eventually turned the ball in past his goalkeeper Nyoni.

Caps United’s other goals came from Ishmael Tindwa, Nicholas Alifandika and Kelvin Bulaji.
The Green Machine’s coach, Taurai Mangwiro, was pleased that they accomplished their revenge mission and said focus is on winning their remaining matches.

“It was a good victory for us especially after the first leg loss. Our tactics worked because the game plan was to hold on to possession and be quick on transition which came out perfectly,” Mangwiro said.

“What is important after this victory is not to lose focus but try to maintain this seven-match unbeaten run and collect as many points as possible along the way.”

Caps United’s last defeat was away to Hwange where they lost 1-2 on August 7 and look to have struck rich form, evidenced by them dismantling Highlanders.

Bosso whose chances of playing in the end-of-the-season Mbada Diamonds Cup are fading with each passing week as Hwange, FC Platinum and Chicken Inn are breathing heavily down on their neck.

How Mine saved Bosso blushes of sliding down the ladder to lose their fourth place slot as they beat Hwange 2-1 at the Colliery.
How Mine’s victory meant that Hwange remained glued on position five, tied on 38 points with Norman Mapeza’s FC Platinum who beat Harare City 2-0 on Saturday.

Chicken Inn are two points behind Bosso after their 2-0 win over Black Rhinos. The Gamecocks who held Highlanders to a 1-1 first leg draw, take on the Bulawayo giants in their next league match.  With their present form, Joey Antipas and his boys can disappoint Bosso.

The last five rounds of matches are likely to be explosive as all teams in the bottom half are not safe from being axed and they would want to collect as many points as possible.

Fans should brace for thrills and spills in the survival battle.

Remaining Castle Lager Premier League Fixtures
Week 26: Dynamos v Chapungu, Highlanders v Chicken Inn, FC Platinum v ZPC Kariba, Black Rhinos v Hwange, Triangle v Caps United, How Mine v Chiredzi, Buffaloes v Harare City, Bantu Rovers v Shabanie Mine
Week 27: Hwange v Highlanders, Caps United v FC Platinum, Harare City v Dynamos, ZPC Kariba v Buffaloes, Shabanie Mine v How Mine, Chapungu v Bantu Rovers, Chicken Inn v Triangle, Chiredzi v Black Rhinos
Week 28: Highlanders v Chiredzi, Dynamos v Bantu Rovers, Harare City v ZPC Kariba, Buffaloes v Caps United, Triangle v Hwange, How Mine v Chapungu, FC Platinum v Chicken Innn, Black Rhinos v Shabanie Mine
Week 29: Shabanie Mine v Highlanders, Hwange v FC Platinum, Caps United v Harare City, ZPC Kariba v Dynamos, bantu Rovers v How Mine, Chicken Inn v Buffaloes, Chiredzi v Triangle, Chapungu v Black Rhinos
Week 30: Dynamos v How Mine, Buffaloes v Hwange, ZPC Kariba v Caps United, Highlanders v Chapungu, Harare City v Chicken Inn, FC Platinum v Chiredzi, Black rhinos v Bantu Rovers, Triangle v Shabanie Mine
Weekend Premier League Results
Saturday: Harare City 0-2 FC Platinum 2, Chiredzi 0-1 Bantu Rovers, Chicken Inn 2-0 Black Rhinos, ZPC Kariba 1 -0 Triangle United
Sunday: Caps United 4-0 Highlanders, Buffaloes 0-1 Dynamos, Hwange 1-2 How Mine, Shabanie Mine 1-0 Chapungu