Relegation battles ensue
OnSport Reporter
FOCUS continues to be on giants Dynamos when they take on equally-struggling Green Fuel at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday as the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League relegation fights take centre stage going to the end of the season.
Many a local football fan had condemned Dynamos until the arrival of coach Kelvin Kaindu, who has executed two important consecutive wins after the Harare giants had gone seven matches without a win under the tutelage of Saul Chaminuka and assistant Philemon Mutyakureva.
Kaindu beat title contenders MWOS at Rufaro and relegation candidates Kwekwe United away from home and return home this weekend for Green Fuel looking forward to yet another win to extricate themselves from the jaws of relegation.
But it is still not looking good for the Glamour Boys, who are second from the bottom with a paltry 22 points from 25 games with nine to go to wrap up the season.
On the other hand, Green Fuel occupy the relegation cut-off position on the 15th spot with 27 points and last week lost to Herentals after a win against ZPC Kariba.
Kwekwe United, already counted out, unless they survive by some miracle, anchor the log standings with nine points and have a tough one on Saturday afternoon at Wadzanayi against log leaders Simba Bhora on their way to retain the title with 50 points.
Highlanders have finally replaced interim coach Try Ncube with former coach Hendrikus Pieter De Jongh who sits on the bench on Sunday against Bikita Minerals at Gibbo Stadium.
De Jongh started duty on Wednesday after he got his workers’ permit and has avoided the media ahead of his first game in charge.
The Bulawayo giants, with 29 points are ninth and are not statistically safe from the dreaded chop as they are just two points away from the relegation threshold.
They stalk Bikita Minerals who are on the 10th spot and also on 29 points.
The Bulawayo giants parted ways with Kaindu in June and Ncube has won just one match in eight games in charge, drawing three and losing four, two in front of their home crowd at Barbourfields Stadium.
It’s not rosy for another giant Caps United, who are on position 12 with 28 points as they clash with FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium on Saturday while 2015 champions, Chicken Inn, on 27 points occupy the 14th spot travel to Gweru for troublesome TelOne on the same day.
Later in the day today, Yadah, who have also struggled host Ngezi Platinum Stars at the Heart.
The Miracle Boys occupy position 13 on the table with 28 points.
Steadily rising Triangle, with 28 points on position 11, are away at Nyamhunga Stadium against ZPC Kariba, who are on 31 points, sitting on the eighth spot while Manica Diamonds on position 16 with 27 points, host MWOS at Sakubva on Sunday.
In the battle for supremacy, as Simba Bhora host KweKwe United, second-placed Scottland, with 49 points, will be at Rufaro Stadium, away to Herentals while MWOS with 42 points hit the road to Mutare to tackle The Gem Boys.
Relegation battles ensue
