The Sunday News
Senior Sports Reporter
THE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title is headed for yet another intriguing conclusion with two decisive matches in Harare this afternoon.
Newcomers ZPC Kariba, on top of the log with 56 points heading into the last round of matches find themselves on the verge of making history by becoming the first team in the modern day Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League to be crowned champions in their first season in the top flight. On the other hand, defending champions Dynamos would be looking for their fourth straight championship but their fate is no longer in their hands.
ZPC Kariba square off against Caps United at their favourite hunting ground Gwanzura Stadium, which has been their home away from home since start of the season.
A win for Saul Chaminuka’s side will see them being crowned champions while a draw for them can still suffice, that is if Dynamos do not hammer How Mine by a huge margin at the National Sports Stadium.
Injured ZPC Kariba captain Tendai Hove, who is still ruled out of today’s encounter against Makepekepe as he is still recuperating from a shoulder injury, said they had prepared for the showdown with Caps United just the way they have fine tuned for any other game this season.
“We are treating this match just the same as we were treating all the previous matches but we do bear in mind what is at stake so we are going to push for a win. Of course football is a game of pressure but we have been managing this pressure from first game up to now,’’ said Hove.
On the shoulder injury that has seen him miss the his team’s last five matches, Hove disclosed that he was making good recovery but it was sad that he would not be able to lead his troop this afternoon as he was not going to risk the injury.
“I am better now, recovering well. I don’t think I will have fully recovered for the match day. The injury was not bad at all, thought I was going to miss two games but shoulder injury is tricky, needs time to fully recover otherwise if I rush I might worsen it,’’ Hove said.
In the absence of Hove, Tonderai Mateyaunga, the young goalkeeper who has been in goals ever since Hove got injured is most likely to be tasked with ensuring that Caps United do not score. Besides Hove, Kauya Katurutu will also be without Obey Mwerahari, ruled out by an ankle injury and the suspended Tsepo Ranthokoane.
The trio’s absence might not be felt by Chamunika at all as he has at his disposal some players with lots of experience at the top. Hard working defensive midfielder Tawanda Munyanduri leads the team and should look to strike a good combination with Ephraim Mwinga, Pride Tafirenyika, Limited Chikafa, Dennis Dauda, Terrence Gonzo, Tawanda Nyamandwe and Moses Makanje as ZPC Kariba look to go into the record books.
Caps United team manager Luis Maio pointed out that they were not intimidated by fact that ZPC Kariba have not lost a league match at Gwanzura Stadium this season.
Maio said in head coach Taurai Mangwiro’s absence, in Cameroon for a CAF instructors course, the team was in the capable hands of assistant coach Mike Madzivanyika. On whether they were going to do any goodwill for Dynamos by defeating ZPC Kariba, Maio said they will be out to do themselves a favour because a win for them will guarantee third spot. A slip up might see FC Platinum, two points behind and with a seemingly easy task against Chiredzi at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane overtake Caps United into third spot on the log.
Last year, Caps United did their rivals Dynamos a huge favour when they held Harare City to a 2-2 draw while DeMbare beat Black Mambas 2-0 to win the championship on goal difference.
“We are not doing anyone a favour, the favour we want is for ourselves, we want to finish as high as possible, we need to win to secure third place, if ZPC want the title they have to beat us, Dynamos have to beat How Mine so we are going all out for a victory,’’ said Maio.
The Caps United team manager said they have no injury concerns in their camp. In their bid to subdue the ZPC Kariba electric shock, Makepekepe will look to the likes of skipper Tapiwa Kumbuyani, season goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube, Ronald Pfumidzayi, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Stephen Makatuka, Dominic Mukandi, Dominic Chungwa and Tendai Samanja.
Dynamos meet a team mentored by their former coach Luke Masomere that has proved hard to beat in the past. In the reverse fixture staged at Barbourfields Stadium in April, DeMbare laboured to a 1-0 triumph over Chikurupati with the goal coming from the boot of a How Mine player, defender Brighton Dube’s attempted clearance beating goalkeeper Bernard Donovan.
That result will show that it is going to be hard for Dynamos to go on a goal feast against How Mine.
DeMbare have to do battle without forward Roderick Mutuma who sits out the match after accumulating three yellow cards.
Fixtures
Today: Harare City v Chicken Inn (Rufaro Stadium), Triangle v Shabanie Mine (Gibbo Stadium), Black Rhinos v Bantu Rovers (Rimuka Stadium), Buffaloes v Hwange (Sakubva Stadium), FC Platinum v Chiredzi (Mandava Stadium), Highlanders v Chapungu (Hartsfield Rugby Ground), ZPC Kariba v Caps United (Gwanzura Stadium), Dynamos v How Mine (National Sports Stadium)
