2018 season: The story so far
SO THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League 2018 season takes a welcome twoweek mid-season breather and the window offers clubs time to retrospect on what has been of the campaign thus far. Football fanatics will in the intervening period until resumption of the marathon turn to the Fifa 2018 World Cup currently in full swing in Russia, however, for international action. But this is the time teams on the local front pause and ponder, taking stock and reflecting on their respective progress during the period under review. A Platinum penitentiary
The race for the championship is arguably turning out to be a Platinum penitentiary as FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum Stars have shot into seemingly comfortable leads ahead of the chasing pack. They both are simply the leading lights, although the latter appear to have lost balance with three successive losses that have seen them subsequently relinquishing top spot. The former, on the other hand, are turning their feel of the title as the reigning champions into a firm grip and have thrust themselves into the frame of a successful title defence that has since been building some momentum. That some coaches among the defeatist “also-rans” have already grudgingly resigned to the fate of being out of the picture of the title tilt tells a story. And on current evidence it looks like FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum Stars are the two that are likely to run each other close till the business end of the marathon! A dark horse may still emerge, however. The usual suspects
The so-called traditional giants and former champions have fallen off the pace. Dynamos are singing the blues.
The pastures are not as green at CAPS United. It looks grey at Highlanders, shades of a mixture of their black and white strip. Chicken Inn have not been consistent enough to convince that they can convincingly challenge for the championship. And the rest . . .
A case of mixed fortunes has so far defined the campaign of the other teams fighting for the wooden spoon, to be the best of the rest. The Sugar Boys, Triangle, have had a sweet-sour season, blowing hot and cold and may just, at best, fight for a top-four finish. Bulawayo Chiefs are the surprise package with their giant-slaying acts that have seen them accounting for FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum Stars and Highlanders, while taking points off CAPS United.
While some respect can be put to their name for putting these seasoned campaigners to the sword, those intermittent fine outings cannot make their entire season. The other newcomers, Herentals and Nichrut, are pulling their weight, while returnees Mutare City Rovers are finding the going tough and remain rooted at the foot of the table. Unsurprisingly, all four find themselves in the bottom half of the log and may take cold comfort in that struggling heavyweights DeMbare are numbering among them in that not-so-glamorous zone. Yadah Stars owner and sponsor Walter Magaya has to man up to the rugged terrain that this league is and not be a cry baby that shed tears over petty issues like the frivolous excuses he raised seeking a postponement of one of his team’s games owing to some players being in the Warriors squad. He has to live with the reality that his club will miss key players for one reason or the other over the course of the season. Nichrut have to own up to the anti-sportsmanship behaviour of their fans and not cry foul when they are heavily fined for their rogue deeds hooliganism and violence have no place in the game and, therefore, have to be weeded out.
The match officials also need to up their game as there have been several complaints over poor or outright biased officiating.
The league campaign appears to have already taken shape, but how will it eventually pan out? We wait to watch and see. If it is about football that you care let’s share the cheer because we are made for the game, mad about the game!
Feedback:
The Premier Soccer League should be recommended for fining the clubs and officials that violate their rules and regulation. These fines will go a long way in curbing cases of unsavoury acts at our stadiums. That even coaches are getting fined for reckless statements to the media is also good for the game. This must also be extended to football officials who attack and abuse match officials either physically or verbally. The beautiful game should be all action on the pitch and cheering from
the terraces. Tawanda Mhlanga, Dangamvura.
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