Milton Mashasha Sports Reporter in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
DYNAMOS fc surrendered the top spot in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer league log standing after being held to a one (1-1)draw by the relegation threatened Tsholotsho Fc on Wednesday afternoon in a midweek fixture played at the giant National Sport Stadium.
It was a match that Lloyd Mutasa wanted to win at all cost after dropping crucial points at Nyamhunga stadium on Saturday where they played a 1-1 draw against ZPC Kariba. The Lloyd Mutasa’s squad which is currently crippled by injuries,was expected to easy past the Beitbridge based team Tsholotsho but alas Tsholotsho had other ideas.
Dynamos fc were the first to score through Tichaona Chipunza in the 16th then Tsholotsho quickly equalized through Lucky Nyathi a minute later and Dynamos failed to overturn the scoreline to their favour.
Prior to the match,Dynamos were on the summit of the log standing with 57 points,with Ngezi Platinum and FC Platinum trailing in hot pursuit by a single point.It was good news for the chasing pack especially FC Platinum who comfortable won their match 2-0 against their fellow city rivals Shabanie mine at Mandava Stadium,ironically dislodging the Harare giants from the summit of the log.
FC Platinum now on 59 points, a point ahead of Dynamos who are now occupying the second spot with 58 points.The Mhondoro based outfit Ngezi Platinum also failed to sail past the stubborn Chapungu fc,they played to a (1-1) one all stalemate leaving Ngezi Platinum with 57 points and trailing the now log leaders FC Platinum by 2 points seating on position 3.
Dynamos has got a tough assignment in their upcoming premier league fixture, they face the equally good Ngezi Platinum stars at Baobab stadium in Mhondoro. Both teams will be looking forward to get maximum points in order to remain in contention to lift the title. Norman Mapeza who is now sensing and hoping that this might be his year after a succession of attempts to win the Championship for some seasons but lost it either through a goal difference or head to head comparison or surrendering the title on the last day of the season.
Mapeza will be hoping that the two,Ngezi and FC Platinum share spoils whilst he succeed and wins his next encounter against Harare City in Harare that might enable his team to open a 3 points gap to cement his position on the summit of the log standing. Dynamos would not afford to lose or draw again at this stage whilst on the other side the same applies to Tonderai Ndiraya’s team Ngezi who are expecting to lift their first Championship title since their promotion in the top flight league.Therefore,this will be the toughest match for the former Dynamos players Lloyd Mutasa and Tonderai Ndiraya now coaches for the two respective clubs Ngezi and Dynamos.
Ngezi Platinum stars are likely to win the contest considering the number of experienced and seasoned players in their squad,hence on the other hand their opponents Dynamos has got most young inexperienced players with only few seasoned players who seem to be overworking playing almost in every game leading to be vulnerable to injuries and fatigue like one of their dependable utility player Obey Mwenahari and also the likes of Ocean Mushure and Denver Mukamba,they are always in and out sidelined by injuries when their services are more than required.
Mapeza will be hoping his mid-season acquired veterans(strikers)Takesure Chinyama, Ali Sadiki and Mukhokheli Dube will lead the team from the front scoring those crucial goals using their experience for the team to remain on top of the log standing.The ball is now in their hands to keep it or lose it,just like what the Glamour Boys did, surrendering the top spot so cheaply.
Mkhokheli Dube showed character and experience when he scored the equalizer against Highlanders at Barbourfields stadium on Sunday with Ali Sadiki scoring a stinger to seal victory for FC Platinum. Mkhokheli also got the second goal against Shabanie Mine on Wednesday at Mandava after Rodwell Chinyengetere propelled them ahead.
Dynamos will have to work extremely hard to reclaim that top spot otherwise FC Platinum might run away with it for the first time since their promotion in the Zimbabwean top flight league.
@lesego.
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