The Sunday Mail
THE sink or swim period is here.
The Castle Lager Premier Soccer League relegation battle intensifies this afternoon with an appetising list of fixtures whose outcome could give a pointer on who else will join Chiredzi FC on the train back to Division One.
With Bantu Rovers highly likely to lose their Premiership status after today’s clash against league title favourites Dynamos at Rufaro, uncertainty has also gripped the likes of Black Rhinos, Triangle, Shabanie Mine and Chapungu, who are all hanging precariously.
Four teams will be dropped at the end of the season.
The final two weeks should be intriguing as the relegation threatened sides will also clash against each other.
However, the dog fight heats up today with Black Rhinos locking horns with Shabanie Mine at Rimuka in the peak of the crop.
Rhinos are 14th with 31 points and host a Shabanie Mine side who, despite enjoying the comfort of being a place above the drop zone, are desperate to return to winning ways after a deflating midweek home lose to How Mine.
The Chinda Boys are 12th and enjoy a point advantage over the army side who are buoyed by the 2-1 midweek away win in Chiredzi.
Rhinos could end the day deeper in the mud should they lose at Rimuka while Triangle get the better of Hwange at their favourite hunting ground Gibo.
Shabanie Mine will face Highlanders (home) and Triangle (away) in the last two rounds of the season while Chauya Chipembere still have dates with Chapungu (away)and Bantu Rovers (home).
Chinda Boys coach, Jairos Tapera, is feeling the heat in Zvishavane as he knows the task of saving one of the most passionately supported teams in the league is a Herculean one.
It is not going to be easy either for Triangle, who start the day on 13th position and equal on points with Rhinos but enjoy a superior goal difference, as they face a Hwange side determined to cement its position in the top four.
Biggie Zuze’s “Sugar Boys” still have to play relegated neighbours Chiredzi (away) and Shabanie (home) in the final rounds of this riveting season.
Zuze, who was also in the same unfortunate situation at relegated Monomotapa last season, could have his troubles worsened by a spate of injuries to key players Praise Tonha, Charles Rukwanhi and centre back Jimmy Tigere.
Much will also depend on the outcome of the clash between a resurgent How Mine and the not so safe Chapungu in Bulawayo.
The Air Force side, who are 11th with 33 points in the bag and two points above the relegation zone, did themselves a disservice during the week when they lost 2-3 at home to Bantu Rovers.
They will now seek to turn the tables when they face Luke Masomere’s Chikurupati, who are eyeing a top eight finish this afternoon.
Chapungu, whose resilience at Ascot was finally broken by Bantu Rovers, will also play fellow relegation candidates Black Rhinos at the same venue and Highlanders at Hartsfield in their final game of the season.
The Sunday Mail spoke to the affected coaches and this is what they said:
Jairos Tapera, Shabanie Mine “The weather in Zvishavane is hot these days my friend but not as hot as the battle against relegation.
“It is a funny competition, we will play against teams who are also facing the chop but that is the nature of the game.”
Biggie Zuze, Triangle: “We have to collect maximum points from our remaining fixtures. Morale is high in camp despite the draw against Chicken Inn and the injuries.”
John Nyikadzino, Chapungu: “I can assure you that we will survive the chop. The 2-3 defeat against Bantu Rovers is now water under the bridge and you will see a high fliying Chapungu in the last three games.”
Mandla Mpofu, Bantu Rovers: “It is unfortunate we are sinking but I feel a team like Bantu Rovers belongs in the top flight league.”
Jostein Mathuthu, Black Rhinos: “We are not doing well at Rimuka but I am happy with the points we have picked up recently. Slowly but surely, we will be able to survive relegation.”
