Ngezi Platinum closer to title
NGEZI PLATINUM will have one hand on the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title if they win at home to newcomers Sheasham this afternoon as rivals lost ground over the weekend.
The Premiership enters Game 31 this afternoon with potentially exciting ties set to be played at seven different venues around the country while two other ties are set for tomorrow.
Victory at Baobab this afternoon will leave Ngezi Platinum needing a maximum of three points from three matches.
Rivals failed to capitalise when Ngezi Platinum Stars suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Nation Dube’s Hwange FC at the Colliery on Sunday and they emerged from the weekend with a healthy seven-point lead.
Ngezi Platinum Stars FC lead the log standings with 57 points and they face tricky Construction Boys, who are placed on number 13th with 34 points.
The Construction Boys gaffer Lizwe Sweswe, who has proved to be a good tactician, has predicted a tough encounter.
“We will need to go with a good mindset. It’s a tricky game against a title chasing side. We are not yet safe from relegation so will need to grind a positive result,” said Sweswe, a former Bulawayo Chiefs, Tsholotsho and FC Platinum gaffer.
At Mandava, defending champions FC Platinum host title chasing Dynamos in what might turn out to be an epic battle for the runners-up ticket.
FC Platinum and Dynamos are both tied on 50 points.
Dynamos go into the match after dropping five points in their last two matches against Manica Diamonds (0-1) and Black Rhinos (0-0).
FC Platinum mentor Norman Mapeza emphasised that they will need to finish the season stronger.
“We take each game as it comes. You will never know with football but we will fight on,” said the ex-Warriors captain and coach.
Bulawayo’s Luveve Stadium will be the venue for the game between former league champions Chicken Inn and Greenfuel.
Gamecocks have found the race getting harder as they have continued to be eluded by positive results.
Hwange have a date with Luke Masomere’s ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga Stadium while Herentals College welcome struggling Cranborne Bullets at the National Sports Stadium.
Jairos Tapera’s Manica Diamonds will seek to rediscover their winning formula when they face Simba Bhora at Gibbo Stadium
Tomorrow, Triangle United will entertain inconsistent Highlanders in another match that will be played at Gibbo Stadium.
Former Cup Kings, CAPS United have a home tie against Bulawayo Chiefs at the National Sports Stadium.
Week 31 Fixtures
Today
Chicken Inn v Greenfuel ( Luveve Stadium), Manica Diamonds v Simba Bhora (Gibbo Stadium), Herentals
v Cranborne Bullets (National Sports Stadium), FC Platinum v Dynamos (Mandava Stadium), ZPC Kariba v Hwange (Nyamhunga Stadium), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Sheasham (Baobab Stadium)
Tomorrow
Triangle United v Highlanders (Gibbo Stadium), CAPS United v Bulawayo Chiefs (National Sports Stadium)
Latest Standings
P W D L
30 17 6 7
30 13 11 6
30 14 8 8
30 14 8 8
30 12 13 5
30 12 9 9
30 10 14 6
30 11 7 12
30 9 12 9
30 9 11 10
30 10 8 12
30 9 9 12
30 7 13 10
30 10 4 16
30 9 6 15
30 5 16 9
30 6 11 13
30 6 8 16
NGEZI PLATINUM DYNAMOS MANICA DIAMONDS FC PLATINUM HIGHLANDERS HERENTALS COLLEGE CHICKEN INN HWANGE SIMBA BHORA CAPS UNITED GREENFUEL BULAWAYO CHIEFS SHEASHAM YADAH
ZPC KARIBA TRIANGLE BLACK RHINOS CRANBORNE BULLETS
F 38 33 37 33 21 33 31 23 27 28 22 31 17 30 20 21 22 14
A 19 13 21 25 18 27 22 25 22 26 29 33 27 41 45 31 32 25
PTS 57 50 50 50 49 45 44 40 39 38 38 36 34 34 33 31 29 26
FORMER Warriors and Highlanders FC coach Rahman Gumbo has been sacked by Botswana outfit Morupule Wanderers after a string of poor results.
His side had managed three draws and three defeats in the first six of the Botswana Premier League. His last match was a 1-1 draw with Holy Ghost on Sunday whereby an equaliser from fellow Zimbabwean Dominic Chungwa rescued a point for Wanderers.
This also means that Gumbo has been sacked twice in a space of 11 months as he was also dismissed by another Botswana side in Sua Flamingoes. Wanderers have not yet communicated on their online platforms and efforts to reach Gumbo did not bear fruit.
They are in 15th place with three points after six matches and will be hoping for a positive result in their next match which will be a tough one against defending champions Jwaneng Galaxy.