The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
WHEN the 10th placed team is not safe from relegation on an 18-team log table, with just two rounds of action left, then you know you are in for a riveting and intense finish.
It’s a relegation puzzle that has given at least eight coaches some sleepless nights and one that could make the 2019 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League one of the most exciting in recent seasons.
Whereas 39 points would have guaranteed teams another stay in the Premiership in the last two seasons, Triangle, who are on 40 points and sit on 10th place this term, are not yet safe.
Triangle (40), Chapungu (39), TelOne (39), Herentals (38), Bulawayo Chiefs (38), Harare City (37), Yadah Stars (35) and Hwange (33) are involved in a tricky relegation puzzle, as the season enters its last 180 minutes.
There is still a mathematical chance ninth placed Manica Diamonds, who are on 41 points, could also drop if they fail in their last two matches.
Three other teams will join Mushowani Stars who were relegated last weekend after they lost at home to resurgent TelOne.
Triangle coach Taurai Mangwiro, whose side can either finish in the top six if they win the last three matches or possibly drop to Division One should they lose all, summed up this season’s tense marathon.
“If a team that has nine losses can still go on to win the championship, it shows you we have a league race that has been very competitive.
“If you try and compare the points tally for teams that got relegated or survived in recent seasons, you can see that there has been intense competition,” Mangwiro said.
Triangle’s next match is against second from bottom Hwange in a rescheduled fixture.
Hwange, who have 33 points from 31 matches and have registered a single win in the last 134 days, will effectively be relegated for the second time in three seasons, if they lose to the “Sugar Sugar Boys”.
The Colliery is no longer a fortress. The miners recently fired coach Nation Dube and things are looking bleak for Chipangano, who have one win in the mining town in their last eight home games.
Third from bottom, Yadah Stars, have 35 points and need to win their last two games against Triangle (home) and Mushowani Stars (away) to get to 41 points and possibly confirm their stay in the top-flight.
A trip to Trojan on the last weekend of the race, to face already relegated Mushowani, could prove decisive for Yadah.
With a minus 14 goal difference, Yadah coach Genesis Mangombe is aware his team needs to generate more goals.
“It’s a tricky situation given that the season is winding up. We need to make sure that we win the remaining fixtures, we need to win the two games with a margin,” said Mangombe.
“If you look at this puzzle, you see that a lot of teams are going to be bunched on 41 points. Goal difference might come in handy.
“If we can score maybe three goals against Triangle and then later on work on Mushowani, who we must beat resoundingly again, then we should be fine.
“As I look at my assignment, it’s far much better than the others. Look at Harare City, they will play Dynamos and Ngezi, it’s a tricky fixture for them.
“Hwange is going to face a tricky encounter against Triangle at Gibbo, they need to win all their last three matches.
“Chapungu, Bulawayo Chiefs, TelOne, Herentals and Harare City are all in the same bracket. Maybe Triangle, if they win against Hwange, are safe.
“Dynamos are vying for a top four finish so they will do everything to upset Harare City. Rodwell Dhlakama, the Ngezi coach, is yet to get a full-time job so he will do everything possible to win against City,” said Mangombe.
Lloyd Chitembwe, whose Harare City are fourth from bottom with 37 points and have a minus six goal difference, thinks his side — just like the others in this puzzle — have a very good chance of surviving.
City are winless in their last four games, but Chitembwe is still optimistic.
“We just need to focus and work very hard. Our chances are as good as the other teams. We have a very good chance of survival,” said Chitembwe, who took some time off his busy schedule last Friday to visit his former school, Seke 2 High in Chitungwiza, to present a Sportsperson of the Year prize.
Giant killers Bulawayo Chiefs are 14th on the log, but face tricky fixtures against Highlanders at Barbourfields and Herentals at home.
Chiefs, who have three wins in their last five matches, including big victories against FC Platinum and Chicken, are banking on utilising their momentum.
Their final game against Herentals at Luveve could prove decisive and “The Students” coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva is talking a lot about that fixture.
Herentals, who play Chicken Inn in Harare before facing Chiefs in Bulawayo, are now two places above the drop zone following a resurgence that has seen them go on a nine-game unbeaten run.
“We now have self-belief,” declared Mutiwekuziva.
“We have collected maximum points in our last two games and this has given us more confidence. The Chicken Inn game is just like any other fixture, we just need to do the right things.
“A positive result against Chicken Inn will make our life easy away at Bulawayo Chiefs.”
Rahman Gumbo’s TelOne, who are on 39 points, gave themselves a huge boost with that 3-0 win against Mushowani Stars last weekend and now need at least a win in their last two matches to stay afloat.
They play Hwange at home before clashing with Chicken Inn at Luveve in the final round.
Gumbo’s men have beaten CAPS United, Triangle and Mushowani in their last four encounters, the other one was a crucial 2-2 draw at Harare City.
Chapungu also have 39 points and are looking to pick at least two points from their last two assignments against Manica Diamonds at Vengere and Highlanders at Ascot.
Triangle, the 10th placed team, are interestingly also fighting for survival, a situation that has left coach Mangwiro blaming himself.
The Lowveld outfit have three wins in their last 10 games and Mangwiro thinks their exit from the CAF Confederation Cup took a toll on his players.
“It’s so sad we find ourselves in this situation, in a season where we promised so much,” Mangwiro said.
“Participation in the Confederation Cup impacted negatively on us, the exit might have taken a toll on us. Our expectations were quite high.
“Of course as the coach, I had my shortcomings, which did not help the team. To lift the players’ spirits up has not been easy but they are giving it a go, they are fighting really hard,” Mangwiro said.
