The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda , Senior Sports Reporter
DEFENDING Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Dynamos refused to back down on the championship race when they edged out log leaders Chicken Inn 1-0 at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
A goal by Roderick Mutuma 10 minutes into the match made sure that DeMbare, Zimbabwean club champions for four consecutive seasons since 2011 walked away with the vital three points. It was the first time that the Glamour Boys had won over Chicken Inn in a league encounter in Bulawayo since the Gamecocks were promoted in 2011. Dynamos moved to 45 points, the same number as FC Platinum who were held to 0-0 draw by relegation candidates Tsholotsho the day before. The platinum miners remain second due to a superior goal difference. Chicken Inn still lead the 16-team log standings with 49 points.
Chicken Inn will be left to rue agreeing to the PSL putting down the fixture on a Sunday afternoon at Barbourfields instead of Luveve Stadium on a Saturday afternoon. Dynamos enjoyed the bulk of the support from the nearly packed Emagumeni with DeMbare fans filling up the Mpilo End.
The match on Sunday started off at an electrifying pace before the two teams held back but ended on a lively note as Chicken Inn looked for an equaliser which never came.
Guide Goddard’s blunder in giving away possession at a crucial stage saw Mutuma, despite being challenged by Brian Mbiriri slot in to beat an exposed Elvis Chipezeze.
Chicken Inn fought hard to level matters with the impressive winger George Majika terrorising the Dynamos defence. The left footed Majika rattled the cross bar from a rebounded Danny Phiri free kick right at the end but Dynamos held on dearly for the three points.
Fast sinking Bulawayo giants Highlanders suffered their 10th loss of the season when they were beaten 3-1 by Caps United at the National Sports Stadium. Despite striker Knox Mutizwa scoring his 11th goal of the season to top the league’s goal scoring chart, Bosso came out second best. With six matches to go in the season, four of them at home for Highlanders, they will be looking to pick up maximum points and finish in a better position than the current 10th place that they find themselves in at the moment.
The league takes a break this weekend to accommodate the semifinals of the Chibuku Super Cup. Chapungu, Dynamos, ZPC Kariba and Harare City are the teams still remaining in the only PSL competition which included all the 16 clubs.
