Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS, Hwange and Border Strikers remain the only sides that are yet to score after two rounds of matches in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
DeMbare were pummelled 0-3 by champions Chicken Inn in their season opener at Barbourfields Stadium a week ago and on Sunday, they held Triangle to a 0-0 draw at Rufaro Stadium. Hwange also lost by a similar scoreline at the hands of Highlanders in their opening game before going down 0-2 to Chapungu on Saturday.
Border Strikers lost 0-2 to ZPC Kariba last week and on Sunday agonisingly fell to a last minute sucker punch by Chicken Inn’s Devine Lunga.
Red lights could be flashing at the Colliery as Hwange have now conceded five goals in two matches and the technical bench of stand-in coach Mebelo Njekwa must be a worried lot. Head coach Nation Dube is on a Zifa-directed suspension due to his alleged involvement in match fixing.
With two teams set to be relegated at the end of the season, Border Strikers and Dynamos are just above the relegation zone.
Controversial Dynamos coach Paulo Jorge Silva, who is already under fire from the team’s impatient fans, has to summon all his tricks to turn around the fortunes of the Harare giants.
On Saturday, he sensationally claimed that some of his players did not want to win. He travels to Mutare City Rovers this coming weekend where any result other than a win would surely end his brief, but turbulent, stay at Dynamos.
Despite their great comeback in their debut PSL match against How Mine last week, new boys Bulawayo City dropped three points against a technically and tactically superior Tsholotsho.
Bulawayo City need to start picking up points now or their confidence levels will diminish sharply. They take on ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga Stadium on Saturday. Maybe they need to start looking for a proven gunman; someone who can bury even half a chance. On paper they have a strong squad with young Lewis Ncube having cemented his place at right-back.
Bulawayo giants Highlanders were given a strong reality check by a tactically superior FC Platinum at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday. Bosso lost 1-2, but some of their supporters were left convinced that the team played well and were just unlucky to drop three points.
Coach Erol Akbay said blaming his boys for the loss would be a terrible mistake, as they did everything they could to score.
He said fans must not worry or even panic as the team was getting stronger with each passing game.
“There’s no need to worry about the team. It’s getting stronger every day. We played very good football on Sunday and that’s how I want to play. This is why I can’t blame my boys; we just have to score because if you can’t score, you can’t win a game and that’s what happened on Sunday,” said Akbay.
He saluted the fans for rallying behind the team even when they were trailing.
“Our supporters kept on giving us hope, even when 2-0 down, which is very good for us and I really hope they do so every week,” said Akbay.
Team of the week: Chicken Inn
The Gamecocks showed what champions are made of by grinding a result when the match seemed to be heading for a draw against Border Strikers at Maglas Stadium in Zvishavane. They are one of only two teams yet to concede in the league together with Triangle and their technical bench is also sound.
Coach of the week: Norman Mapeza
It’s not every day that a team comes to Barbourfields Stadium and posts a sound result, but Mapeza managed, not only to collect maximum points against Highlanders, but also to score two goals. His tactical astuteness was there for all to see, especially with the way he organised his boys after Bosso’s goal.
Losers of the week: Border Strikers executive
The debutants’ leadership must be to blame if the team is relegated at the end of the season as they have failed to sort out their home ground Dulibadzimu for the boys to play at home. Dulibadzimu was condemned last Friday by the PSL despite the club’s executive claiming that they had addressed all concerns raised about the suitability of the stadium. It’s unfair for a new team to play its home matches in Zvishavane where it has no following and is unknown. Beitbridge residents have been clamouring for Premiership football and now that their team has been promoted, the executive must do everything possible to ensure their fans are rewarded with home games before the team loses too many points playing away from home.