Chronicle (Zimbabwe)

Create level ground for crucial matches

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while Chicken Inn are tied on 53 points with FC Platinum, although the Gamecocks have a better goal difference.

At the tail end, eight sides, Triangle United, Harare City, TelOne, Herentals, Bulawayo Chiefs, Hwange, Yadah and Mushowani Stars are fighting for survival.

Just two points separate Triangle, who are on 37 points and in 11th place, with fourth from the bottom Bulawayo Chiefs, who occupy the last relegation slot.

There has been lots of excitement at all matches involving the championsh­ip and relegation sides.

But has PSL been fair championsh­ip chasing teams?

Caps United played their last two games, against ZPC Kariba and Yadah, 24 hours after Chicken Inn and FC Platinum had been in action.

Although some people believe playing later exerts pressure, others felt it gave them an unfair advantage, as they played knowing the results of their rivals.

Against ZPC Kariba, Caps United came from a goal down to win the encounter 2-1, and on Sunday they blew a golden opportunit­y to open a four-point lead by surrenderi­ng a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Yadah.

A football administra­tor, who declined to be named, said: “A dilemma that continues to haunt local football is lack of facilities, as most teams share stadiums and it becomes difficult to have games played simultaneo­usly. However, this doesn’t mean the PSL can’t fixture these teams eyeing the championsh­ip in fixturing or survival at the same time. We’ve seen some poor officiatin­g and reports of some teams even giving opposition players money to influence results. This stage of the season is delicate and PSL should be on the lookout.”

In the past, the PSL used to have the championsh­ip matches played simultaneo­usly, especially the last two games of the season.

The PSL could not commit to the possibilit­y of playing matches simultaneo­usly, saying the final fixtures are yet to be released.

Meanwhile, Chicken Inn and FC Platinum drew their respective matches, with the Gamecocks sharing the spoils with Hwange in a match that ended 1-1, while the platinum miners were held to a goalless draw by Highlander­s.

Chiefs sunk into the relegation zone following a 1-0 away defeat to Manica Diamonds, while Herentals’ 2-0 win against Mushowani Stars moved them out of the relegation zone because of a superior goal difference. Herentals and Chiefs are tied on 35 points.

TelOne moved a point clear of relegation courtesy of their 2-0 home win over Triangle United, while Harare City took their points tally to 37 after playing to a 2-2 draw with ZPC Kariba.

 ??  ?? The Premier Soccer League bouncers and Highlander­s marshals escort Ngezi Platinum technical team led by Assistant Coach Alexio Segion (right) out of the pitch after he incited violence after the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against Highlander­s FC at Barbourfie­lds Stadium. (Picture by Nkosizile Ndlovu)
The Premier Soccer League bouncers and Highlander­s marshals escort Ngezi Platinum technical team led by Assistant Coach Alexio Segion (right) out of the pitch after he incited violence after the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against Highlander­s FC at Barbourfie­lds Stadium. (Picture by Nkosizile Ndlovu)

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