Highlanders Slip As Dynamos Move Up PSL League Table

HARARE — 

Highlanders’ nine-match unbeaten run has come to end after the Bulawayo giants were upended 2-0 by neighbours Chicken Inn at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.

The win has seen the Game Corks extend their winning record against Bosso to five to one with the other five games having ended in draws.

The defeat also had another casualty in the form of Bosso coach, who was thrown to the stand by referee Pilani Ncube for slamming the ball on Chicken Inn’s Passmore Bernard.

Highlanders supporter Elliot Tahwireminzwa says it is becoming too much that every year Bosso are losing matches to the same team.

“Losing matches is normal. But we cannot continue losing to one team. We need to find ways of beating Chicken Inn,” said Tahwireminzwa.

However, Highlanders remain top of the table on 26 points, the same as FC Platinum who on their part overcame Mutare City Rovers 2-1 to stay in touch with the leaders.

Kugona Kunenge Kudada have the chance to overtake Bosso when they play Chicken Inn Tuesday in a game that should have been played earlier in the season.

CAPS STRUGGLING

A draw for Norman Mapeza’s side will them go top of the table. Caps United failed to capitalize on Highlanders’ slip after the Green Machine struggled to a one-all draw against a tired Hwange side who were playing their third game in one week.

After playing Mutare City Rovers at home last Sunday, Chipangano faced Chicken Inn on Wednesday and were on the road to Harare for the game against Caps United and coach Mabelo Njekwa is happy with the point they picked considering the circumstances.

“Looking at the fatigue that we encountered. We played on a Sunday and Wednesday and we had to travel to Harare. A point away from home and a point in this situation is great for us,” said Njekwa.

Sunday Chidzambwa’s ZPC Kariba are also losing ground as they fell four points behind the leaders, after a goalless home draw against inconsistent Chapungu.

The former Warriors coach, however, says he is not worried as his aim is to finish above the relegation positions in the first stanza of the season before launching a serious bid for the title in the second and final period of the programme.

“We assembled a good side. This is a reasonably good side. So we are going to try, first of all in the first round, we are going to try to avoid relegation. Come the second round, we are going to see what we are going to do next,” said Chidzambwa.

DYNAMOS MOVING UP

For Dynamos, however, things appear to be moving in the right direction. Dembare have picked up a maximum of 12 points in four games following their 1-0 win over Bulawayo City which has pushed their total points tally to 20.

The Glamour Boys are now only two points behind, fourth placed ZPC Kariba and six behind overall leaders Highlanders.

Although they won against Bulawayo City Dembare coach Lloyd Mutasa admits they did not have it their own way as the Bulawayo City Fathers gave them a run for their money.

“When you play such a determined side and you get three points from not a good performance is good sign for us. Thanks for Bulawayo City, they gave us a good run for our money,” said Mutasa.

The other Premiership results were as follows ….
Border Strikers 1 Harare City 0
Triangle 1 Tsholotsho Pirates 0
How Mine 1 Ngezi Platinum Stars 2.

After 12, the top four teams are…
Highlanders 26 points
FC Platinum 26 points
Caps United 25 points
ZPC Kariba 22 points.
The bottom four are:
Chapungu 12 points
Mutare City Rovers 9 points
Tsholotsho Pirates 8 points.
Border Strikers 6 points.
In athletics, four-time champion Nkosiyazi Sibanda was dethroned as the king of the Victoria Falls Marathon by Millen Matende of Black Rhinos in a thrilling finish of the 42 kilometre event in the early hours of Sunday.

Sibanda who has won the event in the past four years, could only watch as Matende hit the tape in two hours, 19 minutes, and one second for the $900 on offer for the overall winner.

Sibanda finished second and took home $750 with Zambian Mathews Mutanya in third position and a cool $500 in the pocket.

Tabitha Tsatsa of Powerhouse Athletics Club retained her title with a time of two hours and 50 minutes with Olivier Chitate and Chiedza Chokore close by.

All the top four finishers in the race received financial rewards.