PSL’s relegation survival battle starts taking shape

The Chronicle

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
VISITING ZPC Kariba FC can move out of relegation zone this afternoon should they collect maximum points against Bulawayo City, thanks to FC Platinum’s 2-0 win against Yadah at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

Midfielder Brian Banda and striker Thando Ngwenya struck on either half as FC Platinum moved two places up the table to position three, leapfrogging Triangle United and Manica Diamonds who play their respective matches tomorrow.

Brian Banda

FC Platinum took their points tally to 25 from 15 games, five behind leaders Dynamos.

They are tied on points with Triangle United who have an inferior goal difference and a point above Manica Diamonds.

Both championship dark horses are at home tomorrow, with Triangle United playing host to Cranborne Bullets at Gibbo Stadium while Manica Diamonds take on Black Rhinos at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare.

FC Platinum’s victory left Yadah who are a place above relegation with 14 points, but facing a risk of dropping into the drop zone should ZPC Kariba, on position 16 with 13 points, win their game at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon.

Should ZPC Kariba, under new coach Rodwell Dhlakama who is taking charge of the electricity generators for the second time after replacing fired Godfrey Tamirepi, drop points and 15th placed Tenax CS FC on 14 points fail to pick a point at Ngezi Platinum stars this afternoon, Yadah will stay out of the bottom four.

Rodwell Dhlakama

Dhlakama began his stint with a 1-0 win against Whawha, a result that gives ZPC Kariba confidence coming to City who are also on a high following a hard-fought 1-1 draw with leaders Dynamos in Harare.

Just like ZPC Kariba, City are under a new coach Farai Tawachera who believes a victory today will build his team’s confidence in their survival fight. “Last weekend’s result was a great start for us and credit to the boys for fighting hard.

We’re not safe and we need to direct all our energies towards getting positive results,” said Tawachera.

City anchor the table with seven points from 14 games.

They will pray that they shock ZPC Kariba, while Benjani Mwaruwari-coached Ngezi beats Tenax so that teams they are involved with in survival battle remain within touching distance.

Benjani Mwaruwari

A three-goal winning margin against Tenax will see Ngezi topple Manica Diamonds for a day with a superior goal difference.

Following last weekend’s 1-1 away draw at Black Rhinos, Mwaruwari wants his charges to bounce back to winning ways and move closer to the title chasing pack.

Meanwhile, second placed Chicken Inn visit Caps United who are on a two-match losing streak at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.

Caps United are smarting from a 2-0 defeat to Cranborne Bullets and a 3-0 loss to FC Platinum, while Chicken Inn have registered successive draws against Highlanders (1-1) and Herentals (0-0)

PSL Matchday 15 results and fixtures

Yesterday: Yadah 0-2 FC Platinum

Today: Ngezi Platinum Stars v Tenax CS FC (Baobab), Herentals v Bulawayo Chiefs (National Sports Stadium), Bulawayo City v ZPC Kariba (Barbourfields Stadium), Whawha FC v Harare City (Ascot)

Tomorrow: Caps United v Chicken Inn (National Sports Stadium), Highlanders v Dynamos (Barbourfields Stadium), Manica Diamonds v Black Rhinos (Sakubva), Triangle United v Cranborne Bullets (Gibbo)

Table

P     W     D     L     F     A     GD     Pts

Dynamos     14     9     3     2     17     6     11     30

Chicken Inn     14     8     4     2    19     11     8     28

*FC Platinum    14     7    4     3     18     7     11     25

Triangle Utd    14     7     4     3     18     11     7     25

M/ Diamonds     14    6     6     2     22     12     10    24

Ngezi Plat    14     5     6    3     16     8     8     21

Black Rhinos     14     5     6     3     18     14     4     21

Herentals     14     6    3     5     15     16     -1     21

Byo Chiefs     14     4     6     4     11     11     0     18

Caps United     14     4    5     5     17     19     -2     17

*Highlanders     13     3     7     3     15     10     5     16

Harare City     14     3     7    4     9     10    -1     16

C/ Bullets     14     4     4     6     14     18     -4     16

Yadah     14     3     6     5     10     13     -3     14

Tenax     14     3     5     6     14     25     -11 14

ZPC Kariba     14     3     4     7     8     14     -6     13

Whawha     14     2     2     10    13     32     -19     8

Bulawayo City     14     1     4     9     9     24     -15      7

*Game abandoned

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Article Source: The Chronicle

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