It is the penultimate weekend of the 2014 Premier Soccer League (PSL) campaign and five of this afternoon’s six matches include teams battling for life in the top-flight league.
BY MICHAEL MADYIRA
Seven teams are contesting for survival and from those, two will follow the already relegated duo of Chiredzi FC and Bantu Rovers to Division One.
Five points separate third from bottom Shabanie Mine and How Mine who are sitting at number eight and today’s results will shake up the standings.
The Colliery clash between Hwange and FC Platinum is the only battle this afternoon that does not include the relegation matrix. Highlanders travel to Maglas to face Shabanie Mine whose PSL life is severely under threat.
A top-four finish is now tricky for the Bulawayo giants who have to rely on other teams to achieve that feat.
A draw at the Colliery and a win for them would augur well for Bosso.
Shabanie Mine’s desperate bid to ensure life in the top-flight league complicates Highlanders’ trip.
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In the event that Shabanie collect maximum points, they could still remain stranded in the relegation zone if Black Rhinos at least draw with Chapungu at Rimuka or another draw emerges between 12th-placed Harare City and CAPS United.
That underlines a desperate situation for Jairos Tapera’s men and that could inspire them to harass Highlanders and leave it for the last day of the campaign.
“Things are hard for us here in Zvishavane,” said Tapera. “The situation is stressful. But we are ready for Highlanders because this is a must win for us. Everyone is geared up. It is a blessing for us that everyone is available for selection except injured Terrence Majo.”
Ozias Zibande, Highlanders’ double scorer in last Monday’s 2-1 win over Chiredzi FC will miss the Maglas trip with an ankle knock sustained at training on Thursday.
But Bosso welcome back Simba Sithole from injury and interim coach Mark Mathe has admitted that they now need calculators to work on their top four possibilities.
“We anticipate a tough game against Shabanie Mine and even the last one when we host Chapungu will not be easy because these teams are fighting for their lives. Let me be realistic, we just have to pick up points and then sit down with calculators to see if we have finished in the top-four.”
Black Rhinos and Chapungu fight it out at Chapungu in another relegation contest.
Rhinos are in position 13 but share the same number of points (34) with Chapungu who are three places above them.
Between the soldiers, there is Harare City and Triangle who also have 34 points and either of them can end the day in the relegation zone.
Triangle face what seems like an easy fixture against Chiredzi in a Lowveld derby while City have CAPS United who are guaranteed a top-four finish.
A few weeks ago it appeared as if Harare City were safe from relegation but a four-match losing streak has left them on the brink of demotion.
A different kind of battle will however be raging at Colliery between Hwange and FC Platinum.
Prestige that comes with a top-four finish is at stake and achieving that feat guarantees participation in the Mbada Diamonds Cup.
