Castle Lager Match-Day 23 Round-Up

By Perkins-Tino Bare

It was a Marikana clash at Luveve stadium yesterday as the miners went head to head with FC platinum downing How Mine in a manner which clearly showed that they still had their eye on nothing else but the league title this year. Dynamos on the other hand showed a great boncebackability as they blew away a seemingly drunk side getting a total of 5 goals in the first half. The three wins see them maintaining their spots with the gamecocks leading the race by 5 points whilst Dynamos are in 3^rd trailing by 7 points. Triangle are now all but out of the race as they lie 4^th 12 points behind the leaders.

You Cant Stop Me!

This year`s league title seems to be headed for a dramatic enduing as the pace-setters the Gamecocks seem are not wavering in their quesst at bringing the title back to Bukawayo after a painful 9 years. Going into match-day 23 leading the pack by a comfortable 5 points, Chicken Inn had a rather challenging task ahead of them as they made a long trip to Gibbo stadium where they played Kelvin Kaindu`s triangle which hasn`t won a league match in quite a while. Trinagle struck nice and early as Hillary Bakacheza got them the lead ensuring that they went to the break leading the gamecocks. Second Half saw a change of fortunes as Edmore Chirambadare equalised in the 69<sup>th</sup> minute before Ishamel Lawe got them the lead in the 75<sup>th</sup> minute to wrap-up the match 2-1 and in the process knocking out Triangle out of the race which is now getting intense. The gamecocks` head coach was pleased with his team`s performance as he said, “It’s a brilliant result and l thought we deserved to win as we dominated possession almost the entire afternoon. We scored from some of the chances we created. We are one of the clubs fighting for the title and it’s still a long way to go, but we need to be very calm,” he said in an interview.

Marikana Style

FC Platinum who are trailing the leaders by 5 points was also in action as it looked set to be Marikana battle out in Luveve with the two mining sides going at it. Coach of the month for August Norman Mapeza ensured that his team continued with its Pure Platinum Play which stretched his unbeaten run to 14 games by blowing away How Mine 3-0 through goals as early as the 10^th minute through Brian Muzondiwa. Obrey Chirwa was to add a second 4 minutes later and the performance was later capped off by an own goal by Tapiwa Kumbuyani in the 65th minute.

Fc Platinum`s gaffer Norman Mapeza was delighted with the performance as he went on to praise his charges for showing playing well. “We came here looking for a positive result and I am very happy for the boys. The second half was a bit difficult, but we managed to hold them,” he said in an interview,.. “There is a time when you go through a bad spell, but you do not have to despair. It happens. You have to push on. I heard the rumours in the Press, but I had no problem with management and supporters.” added Mapeza going on to say that only God knew their destiny in the league.

His counterpart Masomere who always has something to say blamed the loss on the aged How Mine squad which was facing an exuberant FC Platinum side. “A bit of age is also affecting negatively in the team. Age is catching up with my players. As a club, we erred when we got players who are almost reaching their peak. Apart from that, we have to soldier on and make sure we win our next game,” he said in an interview. FC Platinum has to be commended for maintaining a sustainable youth policy which has seen them being able to whip out players especially in light of the fact that Mapeza lost possibly 5 of his best players during the transfer window.

The two coaches , that is Mapeza and Joey Antipas also have to be commended for showing a footballing maturity like no other. The two are now surely breaking away from the pack aand this is all as a result of the experiences which they are applying separating the boys from the men. Triangle, How Mine all at some point had a genuine shot at the title but How Mine are now lying 8^th on the log whilst Kaindu just needs to find that winning formula to get him over the line.

Drunken Masters

Dynamos got their revenge at Rufaro stadium in 45 minutes as by half time, they had scored 5 goals past Whahwa which looks set tor return to the Division 1. Fresh from a humbling by FC Platinum, Dynamos seized the chance to get their revenge and once again remind us all that they have won it on the last day for the past 4 years. By the 26^th minute, they had already got 4 goals past Whawha. Ocean Mushure opened the scoring for Dynamos before regulars Ronald Chitiyo and Takesure Chinyama sealed the match early. Nelson Maziwisa pulled one back only for Gift Kwaramba to score again before

Godknows Murwira capped off the win with a free-kick.

In the second half it was a dull affair as there lacked any intent from both sides with Dynamos having done their business early. Dynamos coach Tonderayi Ndiraya blamed it on the boys` complacency but still went on to praise his charges for coming back strongly and once again showing the qualities of a Championship winning team. His counterpart Lloyd Mutasa still believes that his team will survive the relegation dogfight despite lying a point of the foot of the log with 7 games left to play.

ZPC Kariba are also creeping out of the relegation zone as they snapped from that loss from the gamecocks beating Harare City 2-0 at Nyamhunga stadium whilst Tsholotsho dug their grave deeper losing 2-1 to Chapungu. It looks set to be the 4 new guys going back to Division 1 but there is still a lot of football to be played before we conclude this year`s edition of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.

feedback@perkinstinobare.blogspot.com