eBusiness Weekly
Chipo Sabeta
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League second round of the season kicks off tomorrow after a two-week break, setting the stage for an explosive second half in the top flight league.
The seasonal calendar break has allowed players, coaches and staff to recuperate after the usually hectic first half of the season schedule that began in March.
The very definition of a game of two halves, FC Platinum and Ngezi Platinum, are the two sides that dominated the first half of the season and a lot is expected from the Platinum sponsored sides when the league conclude in November.
Ngezi set a club record of 14 matches unbeaten and they will be pining hopes on mid-season break after losing control of the Premiership race to FC Platinum who are six points clear.
The Mhondoro — based platinum miners endured a dip in form and suffered three consecutive defeats against Bulawayo Chiefs, FC Platinum and Black Rhinos in the last three matches in June.
The mid-season break was an opportunity for Tonderai Ndiraya to find a solution.
He told our sister paper The Herald that he believes his side had slipped into a comfort zone but will force a strong comeback after the break.
Ngezi play Herentals at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
“This is football, but, of course, losing three games in a row is not a good thing. It really dents our chances of winning the title. But we still have 17 games and that is a very long way to go. We just have to find a way to get out of the mess we find ourselves in, and I think we can. Thank God we have a mid-season break coming. So we have about two weeks to recharge and re-energise ourselves and then start all over again,” he said.
Reigning champions, FC Platinum are now leading with six points and the Norman Mapeza led side have also completed the signing of former Ajax Cape Town and Golden Arrows striker Thomas Chideu.
“Chideu is our latest addition at FC Platinum,” FC Platinum spokesperson Chido Chizondo confirmed.
“Midfielder, Hillary Bakacheza, will be loaned at Triangle whilst Farai Mupasiri’s whereabouts are unknown. He has a running contract and we will wait to hear from him.”
Things have taken a different turn for Bulawayo giants, Highlanders despite a good and an ambitious start of the season.
Bosso coach, Madinda Ndlovu, has been quiet on the market but the former Zimbabwean international is seeking redemption with his youthful side.
Inconsistent, CAPS United, who are on fourth position will be eyeing a better show from this weekend.
The Lloyd Chitembwe’s men will face Harare City at Rufaro Stadium. The first leg ended in a draw.
The Green Machine have been battling for consistency with 29 points from 17 games but CAPS United assistant coach Tostao Kwashi defended their position.
Kwashi said: “We lost more than 11 players. We need to appreciate certain things and efforts that our coach and players have been putting. Circumstances are not easy when a team loses its first choice players. It will be difficult to assemble another competitive side.
After winning the championship in 2016, we have been losing our best players and this year was even bad. Some left for greener pastures, whilst others were injured. Then there was an unfortunate incident about Hardlife Zvirekwi. I think we have been doing well and we are hoping to come out stronger starting this weekend.”
The 2016 champions have parted ways with Dominic Chungwa, Abbas Amidu, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Phineas Bhamusi, Tafadzwa Rusike, Edmore Sibanda, Devon Chafa and Moses Muchenje
Ronald Chitiyo and Captain Zvirekwi have been on the side-lines since March due to injuries.
Last month, Makepekepe lost Nicholas Guyo to South African National First Division side Ubuntu FC.
They have also released goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya who requested for his clearance. Diya was the club’s third choice gold-minder after Prosper Chugumba and Chris Mverechena.
Method Mwanjali and Zvirekwi could be CAPS United’s latest addition.
Meanwhile, Harare giants Dynamos will be eying a fresh start after a disastrous start on the season.
They are sitting on 9th place on the log with 20 points.
Coach Lloyd Mutasa, who was reappointed as head coach will be keen make a difference when they host Chicken Inn at Rufaro on Sunday.
ZPC Kariba, who are sitting on 10th position on the log with 19 points signed the league’s leading goal scorer, David Temwanjira, on a one-year contract.
Temwanjira, who is leading the goal-scoring charts with nine goals at the halfway mark snubbed interest from South Africa’s National First Division teams for ZPC Kariba.
ZPC had three points deducted last month following the use of a suspended player Munyaradzi Kunyarimwe in their match against Bulawayo City FC.
Shabanie Mine, Bulawayo City, Nichrut, Chapungu and Mutare City have been the worst performers of the first round with less than 14 points each after 17 starts.
Shabanie have lost midfielders Tinashe Chigede, Temwanjira, Joe Nyabinde and Carlos Rusere.
Mutare City Rovers anchor the log with 11 points from 17 games.
Meanwhile, PSL spokesperson, Kudzai Bare, said all the matches pencilled for tomorrow will kick off at 2pm so as to accommodate the World Cup quarter-final match scheduled for 4pm on the same day.
Matchday 18 Fixtures
Saturday 2pm kickoff
Harare City v CAPS United — Rufaro
FC Platinum v ZPC Kariba — Mandava
Herentals FC v Ngezi Platinum Stars — NSS 1400hrs
Sunday 3Pm Kickoff
Mutare City Rovers v Nichrut FC — Vengere
Dynamos v Chicken Inn FC — Rufaro
Black Rhinos v Highlanders — NSS
Bulawayo Chiefs v Yadah — Luveve
Triangle FC v Shabanie Mine — Gibbo
Chapungu v Bulawayo City — Ascot
