The 2015 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title race has reached its turning point with the guessing game on who will win the championship the order of the day.
Inside Sport by Michael Kariati
Permutations are already being played around with, and some have drawn their conclusions on who will be crowned the kings of Zimbabwean football come end of season.
There is no question that with only six games remaining, this is now a three-team race involving Chicken Inn on 49 points, FC Platinum on 45 points and defending champions, Dynamos, also on 45 points.
Triangle could have also been in the race, but they were generous enough to donate points to their strongest challengers, Chicken Inn, FC Platinum and Dynamos — and in their own home ground of Gibbo Stadium.
There was a time when it seemed the title was clearly going to Chicken Inn, but the GameCocks’ 1-0 defeat at the hands of Dynamos, courtesy of that Roderick Mutuma strike, constituted a grievous blow to their ambitions.
Some bookmakers are convinced the trophy will remain in the same room it has been locked in for the past four years, with former Flame Lilly coach Nesbert Saruchera being one of them.
Their line of thinking is premised in part on the belief that Dynamos are unbeatable when in this striking position, especially at this stage of the season.
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With six games left before the curtain comes down on the season, there are some who are prepared to bet their last cent that DeMbare will win all their remaining games.
Their strong belief is further buttressed by the fact that Dynamos have done so in the past two seasons — when they took the title from their strongest challengers, and on the last day of play for that matter.
Last season, the title looked like it was ZPC Kariba’s for the taking, until the last day of play when Katuruturu were beaten 3-2 by CAPS United, while Dynamos overcame How Mine 2-0 to take the title by a point.
The same happened in 2013 when Harare City were leading Dynamos by two points on the last day of play. Once again, CAPS United came to DeMbare’s rescue after holding Harare City to a two-all draw, while Dynamos sent Black Mambas to Division One with a 2-0 victory and took the title on goal difference over both Harare City and Highlanders.
Ironically, Harare City will play a very big role in determining the destiny of the 2015 league title as they will play all the top three placed teams —Dynamos away in their next game before they meet both Chicken Inn and FC Platinum at home.
More importantly is the fact that leaders Chicken Inn and second- placed FC Platinum will cancel each other when they square off at Mandava Stadium in Week 26 of the action, at a time Dynamos will have a seemingly easy assignment over that weekend as they play little Flame Lilly.
What is also interesting is the fact that both FC Platinum and Dynamos will play on-fire CAPS United, while Chicken Inn have been spared the chance to meet Makepekepe who have been the Zimbabwean domestic football kingmakers in the past two seasons.
Dynamos also won the league title in 2011 on goal difference over FC Platinum, as well as in 2012, also on goal difference over Highlanders.
With that in mind, there are some who say football becomes less and less exciting when one team continues to win, adding that they would rather have Chicken Inn or FC Platinum take the title this year. However, as things stand right now, it is looking good for Chicken Inn’s GameCocks.
But who do you think will carry the day in the end?
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