By Jafferson Ndhlovu
The Zimbabwe Castle Premier Soccer League enters week 15 with a host of matches lined up this weekend.
But its the sombre moment for the funeral of former Zimbabwe International Edzai Kasinaiyo happening this Saturday, that has calmed the expectant fans. His burial takes place this afternoon, an hour just before the kicking off of the week 15 fixtures.
Kasinauyo died in South Africa and his body arrived back home in Zimbabwe on Thursday night. Zimbabwe football Association (ZIFA) Secretary General Joseph Mamutsi announced a week long mourning for the legend.
FIXTURES
Saturday – 24.06.2017
Chicken Inn v Ngezi Platinum
Luveve Stadium
Table toppers Chicken Inn somehow has found their way to the summit of the log. Fortunes at the club seemed to have been falling in recent weeks and the departure of the title winning coach Joey Antipas with a number of players did nothing to help the team. And there were vuvuzelas blowing that Rahman Gumbo the new coach for the club could be given the boot.
Somehow that noise awoke the 2015 Champions from the slumber. They have since been posting wonderful wins and suddenly shot to summit of table.
They welcome Ngezi Platinum to the shores of Bulawayo this afternoon. A difficult opponent on any given day.
Ngezi Platinum had their maiden top flight football last season. But they already appear like they are very seasoned campaigners. And have made enough noise to be counted as potential 2017 Champions taking the button from defending champions Caps United.
Caps themselves only get back to local football on Tuesday.
FC Platinum v Tsholotsho
Mandava Stadium
Moneybags Platinum FC in a match like this were expected to collect maximum points. But the platinum miners seemingly have found comfort in playing to avoid defeat. They appear more determined to go all the way in keeping the unbeaten tag. They remain the only side not have lost a match this season. But that has not helped their cause.
They occupy 6th place on the table. At this time of the season they were expected to be first or second. They have posted more draws than any other side in the league. They now face relegation candidates Tsholotsho FC have massive problems of their own. 14 games played so far with no single win and only with 5 draws. That gives 5 points and sitting right at the bottom of table. The team has had a change of technical management but that has not helped their cause.
They could fancy their chances at the overly cautious Norman Mapeza side coached side at Mandava this afternoon.
Sunday – 24.06.2017
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How Mine v Highlanders
Barbourfields Stadium
It’s the City of Kings Derby as the two foreign coaches meet. Zambian Kelvin Kaindu takes Dutchman Errol Akby in a match that would see Bosso go right above on Howmine should they beat them.
But its not a stroll in the park. Kaindu knows a thing or two about Highlanders having coached the Bulawayo giants a couple season ago. He was a fan favourite and relative well. But his only crime as manager was failure to upstagr eternal football enemies for Highlanders in Dynamos FC. It’s unwritten rule for both Highlanders and Dynamos that a coach who can’t claim bragging rights involving the two must have a good reason to keep his job.
Bantu Rovers v Chapungu
Luveve Stdium
Leonard Tsipa of Caps United was the country’s top scorer last season with a partly 11 goals. But seemingly that could change soon. The current leading goal scorer is Bukhosi Sibanda of Bantu Rovers. The 20 year old sits on 10 goals already and looks set continue increasing his tally.
But his scoring prowess has not helped his club much. They sit second from the bottom with 7 points in relegation waters. Having conceded 32 goals and scored 16. Basically he has 10 of those 16 the club has scored. They entertain a resurgent Airforce side. Chapungu for the greater part of the early season looked automatic candidates for relegation.
But somehow found the extinguishers to fight the fires and have been quite rising up the ladder to get as far away from from the dropzone where its getting hot by each day.
Chapungu are sitting well in tenth position and could cushion their position with a win against troubled Bantu Rovers.
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Triangle v ZPC Kariba
Gibbo Stadium
ZPC Kariba will arrive in the sugarcane town of Chiredzi without their coach Sunday Chidzambwa. The veteran mentor is in South Africa with the national team for the Senior Cosafa tournament, which starts tomorrow the 25th of June.
But Chidzambwa did well in choosing troops for national team assignments. He was cautious not to disturb the rhythm at his club by only taking one player. And he has been widely applauded generally by balancing the selection across ZPSL. Due to his tactics of choice there not going to be any match postponements due to loss of players.
Triangle on the other side have been in a tips turvy form. The Taurai Mangwiro boys can’t seem to be consistent in their game play. They have dropped points were they were expected to collect maximum. Collected were they were expected to lose.
This Gibbos encounter brings together contrasting setups of teams. Of course none of these two is struggling financially. They both have good backing in terms of resources. It should be an evenly balanced match.
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Hwange v Shabanie
Colliery Stadium
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Black Rhinos v Harare City Morris Depot
Stanford Stix Mutizwa and his seemingly stubborn Army side Black Rhinos welcomes Harare City at the Morris Deport this Sunday.
Chauya Chipembere has been in an amazing for. Its probably the team of the moment. Not many pundits gave them a chance to make as much noise as they done so far.
Sitting pretty on the second position on 27 points with a game less than the log leaders Chicken Inn.
Philani “Beefy” Ncube the new Harare City FC mentor has declared his readiness on facing Chauya Chipembere. Speaking to Paul Mandandi of the Herald newspaper, the former coach of the year had this to say
“Saturday is my
birthday and all I am demanding from my players is
a perfect birthday present,’’ said Ncube.
“I want
to celebrate with them, I want to celebrate with
the executive and I want to celebrate with the
fans and my technical team.
“I now feel that I am part and parcel of Harare
City and I am feeling the love. I am enjoying the
love and my stay and the confidence is slowly
coming up. The team was sinking and it’s now
rising.
“I have made the players believe, I have made the
executive believe. Management is supporting us
financially, spiritually and emotionally. Our fans
are travelling at the back of a lorry and will not
stop singing until the end of the match”
Harare City has been going through a difficult time on field of play and are strangely in relegation waters. We await to see what magic the birthday boy will bring to the Sunshine City boys.
Dynamos v Bulawayo City
National Sports Stadium
Harare Giants Dynamos seems to have found that intimidating old formula. And it appears it haunting opponents once again.
Bulawayo City may just be walking into the lions den at giant national sports stadium this Sunday afternoon.
Llyod Mutasa appears to have discovered what it means to coach the club he played for and shined at. Bosso is in an excellent form and this could just mean well for the club as fans can start trooping to watch their beloved team once again.
With stories that their traditional hunting ground Rufaro Stadium almost getting ready to start hosting matches, Dembare would be happy to get maximum points against Bulawayo City.
Last weekend Dembare came off another abandoned match after the goalpost at Ascot Stadium. Dynamos had scored 4 goals before the match was stopped. PSL is yet to decide on the fate of that match. But its the form that Chazunguza fans are enjoying that could carry the day this Sunday afternoon.
Tuesday – 27.06.2017
Yadah v Caps United
Morris Depot
Caps United will return to the local scene on Tuesday after a forgettable a forgettable outing in the continental competition. They will looking forward to erasing the brusing loss in Tunisia against the Libyan side.
Yadah Stars who are having a difficult season after starting very well are the opponents.
