Erol Akbay
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS will need a “miracle” to claim the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title, with coach Erol Akbay setting a realistic target of being runners-up.
Highlanders’ title hopes took a massive dent when they were felled 1-2 by relegation fighting Tsholotsho FC on Sunday, leaving them four points behind log leaders Caps United with just two games left.
Caps United sit on 57 points, followed by FC Platinum on 55 points while Bosso have 53 points.
“Losing to Tsholotsho FC was really a bad day for us. It made life difficult for us because being four points behind at this stage of the season is too much.
“We’re not giving up hope; we’ll keep fighting, but what is closer to us is finishing second. Obviously I’ll be disappointed to end second because we had opportunities to win the title,” said Akbay.
Caps United are in firm control of their championship destiny and judging by their present form, the Green Machine look set to walk to the podium at the end of the season after a long 11-year wait.
The Green Machine will be crowned champions if they win their next league encounter against Ngezi Platinum Stars and Highlanders beat FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium.
Should Highlanders lose to FC Platinum and Caps United beat Ngezi, the platinum miners and Caps United will remain in contention until the last game of the season.
For FC Platinum to keep their slim hopes of landing the country’s coveted football silverware, they need to beat Highlanders and hope Ngezi Platinum do them favour by either holding Caps United or handing the Harare side defeat.
Highlanders will need Caps United to draw or lose their games against Ngezi Platinum and Chapungu while they win theirs, something that is highly unlikely.
Highlanders will rue their poor form at the start of the second half of the season when they picked just a point out of a possible 15.
Their game against FC Platinum, who will be active this weekend in the Chibuku Super Cup final against Ngezi Platinum Stars, won’t be an easy one for Bosso, who seem to have lost steam.
Highlanders’ loss to Tsholotsho was their second defeat in as many weeks. Bosso faced Tsholotsho smarting from a 0-1 loss to Ngezi in a Chibuku Super Cup semi-final match.
FC Platinum cap their season with an away trip to Tsholotsho.
*Three points deducted for use of a suspended player
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