Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Match-Day 26 Round-Up

By Perkins-Tino Bare

Match-day 26 in the Castle Lagfer Premier Soccer League ended with a round yesterday with fixtures having started during the weekend. The biggest match was the top of the log clash between Chicken Inn and Fc Platinum which was billed to be the title decider. Dynamos` dim hopes of retaining the title on the other hand were all but ended as they slipped further in a race which they had exited long ago after being held to a draw by relegation threatened Flame Lily. Buffaloes slipped into the relegation zone giving Tsholotsho hope of staying in the league leading them to a hard fought 1-0 win. Hwange`s win over Buffaloes saw them moving in place for that top four fininsh but there is still wirk to be done as Caps United and Triangle are also well in contention.

Gamecocks Marching On

The Gamecocks marched on to that maiden league title as they drew 1-1 with FC Platinum in a match played at Luveve Stadium yesterday. Chicken Inn went into the match enjoying a comfortable 4 point lead at the top of the log knowing that a win would all but seal the title early on.

a win for Fc Platinum would blow the race open as they would have trailed the leaders by a point with four games left to play.

FC Platinum got in front early in the first half through Tatenda Dzumbunu but this was then cancelled out by Clemence Matawu who struck on 48 minutes bringing the gamecocks back into the match. It was always going to be a close encounter and both teams went into the match with a cautious approach as no team wanted to make the mistake.

Gamecock`s head coach Joey Antipas was content with the draw, “It was a tight affair, but one thing for sure, I cannot complain about getting a point as it keeps the status quo. We would have loved to get the three points, but all I can say is that the race is still on,” he said in a post match interview with a local daily.

His counterpart Norman Mapeza refused to rule his team out of the race as he is still optimistic about their chances at the title, “I think it’s a vital point for us and we just have got to go back and keep working hard. For us, it is a point gained rather than a point lost and you never know what could happen considering that there are 12 points still to be played for,” Mapeza said. With just four

games left to play this looks well set to be headed to Bulawayo as its going to have to take the Gamecocks two staright defeats out of those four to lose this one.

Tsholotsho Leap For Survival

It looked set to be the newboys goign back to Division 1 as they were the fantastic four filling up the relegation zone before Buffaloes lost to Hwange on Saturday which then opened up a chance for Tsholotsho to leap frog them into 12^th position. On Sunday Tsholotsho did exactly that as they condemned Whawha with an unfashionable 1-0 defeat. After the match there were accusations of match delaying tactics being leveleld against them but we all know at this point in time the key theing is survival. The win placed them just above the relegation as a result of a superior goal difference as they are both on equal points with the current 4^th relegate in Buffaloes on 26 points.

Tsholotsho has both Buffaloes and Flame Lily to play in their remaining matches and those look set to be feisty encounters as they go at each other. Flame Lily themselves are not far off as they lie 3^rd from bottom 3 points behind both Bauffaloes and Tsholotsho. Those two matches are therefore going to be very crucial in this relegation dogfight as a win would mean a golden handshake to either team that would be able to pull it off cometh the hour.

Of the three Buffaloes lookos the weakest and it is in fact the team to be exploited at this point in time. Flame Lily alos playing good football as this past match-day they ended any hopes of Dynamos retaining the title as they held them to a goalless draw at home in a match played at Lafarge stadium on Saturday.

Flame Lily also wants it just as bad as Tsholotsho who are all of a sudden able to grind those important results. If Tsholotsho survives however, it would mean wonders for Bulawayo football especially with Bulawayo City having been promoted. It would see a case whereby 4 teams hail from Bulawayo with the league title itself looking to be headed there as well.

Hwange`s win put them on 5<sup>th</sup> position on equal points with Triangle which fell from grace long ago. ZPC Kariba`s win could also see them ending their season in the top half as they just seeem to be getting their act together.

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