OnSport Reporter
THE erstwhile Castle Lager Premier Soccer League giants continue to sing the blues as Highlanders face the insurmountable task of beating Simba Bhora at the weekend ahead of a tight schedule ahead.
The Bulawayo giants have not won in their last four matches, losing twice to ZPC Kariba and Herentals and two draws against FC Platinum and Dynamos, registering their last win on May 3 against Yadah at the Heart Stadium.
After appearing to stand up to the competition at the top, that poor streak of late has plunged them to position nine on the log-table with 19 points from 14 games, with a 11-point deficit to pacesetters MWOS FC.
They are likely to end the first half of the season on that sad note as they host high-riding Simba Bhora on Sunday at Barbourfields Stadium before travelling to Mutare for a midweek tie against Manica Diamonds and then hosting city neighbours Chicken Inn at home.
The big one, will be against red-hot MWOS again at BF to wrap up the first of the season.
Coach Kelvin Kaindu is praying for a positive result against Simba Bhora as he welcomes steely Mason Mushore who was away with the national team in Morocco and skipper Andrew Mbeba, Prince Ndlovu and Mafious Chihweta, who were in South Africa for the Cosafa tournament.
He admits they have been on a bad patch.
“It was quite important (the international break. We didn’t do well in the last few games that we played and also for the first time this season that we played two games consecutively without us getting a goal and also not picking up a victory. But we went in this break, I think after the 0-0 draw against Dynamos away and all these days that we have been on the break. We have been working on the conditioning of the players and also the finishing part of it and this is the area that we are focusing mostly and we just hope that we get a positive result and also the response that we managed to get the goals that we have been scoring from the time that we started,” Kaindu said.
Also struggling and on position 16 on the standings and literally fighting relegation, are Dynamos and they are off to Gibbo against Bikita Minerals on Saturday.
DeMbare, with glamour diminishing, have only one one game in 14 games, and perch precariously on position 16 in the 18 team league and after Bikita, they are home to Yadah, then away to FC Platinum and embark on another long journey to face ZPC Kariba ant Nyamhunga to put a lid on the first half of the season.
Caps United have not been spared the brute competition that has been brought about by the new Premiership boys MWOS and Scottland and champions Simba Bhora as they also teeter in the danger zone on the table as they host fellow-strugglers Chicken Inn at Rufaro Stadium on Saturday.
Makepekepe, with three wins in 14 outings and sitting on position 14, finish the first half of the season with an way fixture to MWOS, host Kwekwe United and another home game to Green Fuel.
Chicken Inn are not on a bed of roses either, just one rung above Caps on the ladder play their next three matches to the end of the first half against Ngezi Platinum Stars (home), Highlanders away and another on the road against Bikita.
Log-leaders MWOS are away to Triangle on Sunday while Scottland host Kwekwe United at Rufaro on the same day.
On the rise ZPC Kariba, sitting on position four, are away to FC Platinum at Mandava as Herentals troop to the Heart for a game with Yadah on Saturday.
Also on Saturday, its Ngezi Platinum against Manica at Baobab as TelOne ahead to Green Fuel in Chisumbanje.
PSL Giants continue to struggle
