The Sunday Mail
THE 2014 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League equation will be solved by 5pm today after a rush-hour afternoon where virtually all the teams, save for the relegated duo of Bantu Rovers and Chiredzi FC, have something to play for.
While it is a clear two-horse race for the title between log leaders ZPC Kariba and defending champions Dynamos, at the other end, any two of the six —Chapungu, Triangle, Buffaloes, Harare City, Shabanie Mine and Black Rhinos — can join Bantu and Chiredzi on the train to Division One.
All the games kick off at 3pm.
Here are the final day permutations:
ZPC Kariba vs Caps United,
Gwanzura
A win, which takes ZPC Kariba’s tally to an unassailable 59 points, will see the Premiership débutantes being crowned champions. Saul Chaminuka’s side can still lift the title with a draw, provided DeMbare, who are two points behind the electricians, and have an inferior goal difference, fail to beat How Mine by a 5-goal margin. ZPC Kariba can even lose today’s encounter and still lift the title if Dynamos fail to beat How Mine. On the other hand, third-placed Makepekepe, who are on 50 points, two more than red-hot FC Platinum, need a straight win to safeguard position three, which will be their best finish in the last five years.
Reverse fixture: Caps United 1-1 ZPC Kariba
Dynamos v How Mine, NSS
Dynamos will lift a record fourth league title if they beat How Mine, while ZPC Kariba lose against Caps United. DeMbare, who are without top-scorer Roderick Mutuma (suspension), can also march to the podium if they hammer Chikurupati by five clear goals and ZPC Kariba draw at Gwanzura. A draw is not good enough. Chikurupati start the day on eighth position, eager to cushion their place in next year’s OneWallet Cup and need a point from this game.
Reverse fixture: How Mine 0-1 Dynamos
FC Platinum v Chiredzi,
Mandava
With 48 points in the bag, four clear of Chicken Inn, Norman Mapeza’s FC Platinum have already secured a top four finish, but still fancy their chances of overtaking Caps United into third position. Pure Platinum Play, who enjoy a two-goal advantage over Makepekepe, can finish third — one position better than their achievement last season — if they beat Chiredzi, while United fail to collect maximum points.
Chiredzi have only pride to play for.
Reverse fixture: Chiredzi 1-1 FC Platinum
Harare City v Chicken Inn, Rufaro
A win for Harare City, which pushes them to 38 points, will automatically seal their place in the elite league because fellow relegation-threatened sides Triangle (37) and Shabanie Mine (35) are playing against each other. If City draw, the mathematics become trickier because their safety will now depend on the outcome of any two of the other relegation battles. They would now want Shabanie Mine to lose or draw and at the same time hope Rhinos fail to collect maximum points. City will be relegated if they lose, while Shabanie win or draw and Rhinos beat Bantu Rovers.
In the event of outright losses for both Black Rhinos and Shabanie, City will survive the chop even if they lose to Chicken Inn, provided their defeat is by a single-goal margin. Joey Antipas’ men, who lie fifth with 44 points and are already out of contention for top four, will be out to cement a top five finish, wary of Hwange and Highlanders.
Reverse fixture: Chicken Inn 3-0 Harare City
Buffaloes v Hwange, Sakubva
Buffaloes have destiny in their own hands, as a win seals their place in the Premiership. A draw will see Buffaloes having to rely on the outcome of at least two other matches involving relegation teams. Hwange, who miss the services of key players Rodwell Chinyengetere, David Boriwondo and Gerald Ndlovu through suspension, are chasing a top five finish.
A win for Chipangano, coupled with a Chicken Inn loss or a draw for Highlanders, will see them finish among the best five.
Hwange’s best finish in recent years was in 2011 when Zambian coach Tenant Chilumba guided the coalminers to a respectable fourth position.
Reverse fixture: Hwange 5-1
Buffaloes
Highlanders v Chapungu,
Hartsfield
With 37 points and ninth on the log, Chapungu are as good as safe from relegation barring any miraculous score lines in matches involving relegation teams. They can lose to Bosso and still survive because two of the teams involved in the relegation dogfight Shabanie Mine and Triangle also meet this afternoon. Bosso who are seventh with 42 points, two behind fifth placed Chicken Inn, could finish in the top five if they beat Waru Waru while the Gamecocks falter in Harare and Hwange draw or lose at Buffaloes.
Reverse fixture: Chapungu 0-0 Highlanders
Triangle v Shabanie Mine, Gibo
Triangle who are on 37 points, need a point from this game to ensure that top flight football stays in the Lowveld while troubled Shabanie Mine need an outright win. In case of a draw, Shabanie Mine, who will move to 36 points, will only survive if any of the two among Black Rhinos, Harare City and Buffaloes fail to collect maximum points. A win for Shabanie automatically keeps them in the Premiership while Triangle will have to hope that either Harare City or Buffaloes fail to bag maximum points. A defeat will condemn the Chinda Boys to the unfashionable world of Division One football.
Reverse fixture: Shabanie 3-1
Triangle
Black Rhinos v Bantu Rovers,
Rimuka
Black Rhinos have the toughest task because even if they win massively against relegated Bantu, they are not guaranteed survival because they have to rely on the outcome of other matches.
Should they win and move to 37 points, Chauya Chipembere will have to pray that at least two teams among the three just above them Shabanie Mine (35), Harare City (35) and Buffaloes (36) do not collect maximum points.
Bantu Rovers have nothing but pride to play for.
Reverse fixture: Bantu Rovers 0-1 Black Rhinos
