Premier soccer league action enters match day six with log leaders Caps United facing How Mine at Luveve in what looks like a tricky tie for the Lloyd Chitembwe coached side.
By Elia Ntali
Still beaming with confidence following their back to back 1-0 identical scores over their old enemies Dynamos and league debutants Border Strikers, Makepekepe would want to extend their lead at the summit of the league table.
Action starts on Friday when defending champions Chicken Inn who are grappling with the departure of their coach Joey Antipas take on David Mandigora Triangle at Luveve stadium.
Antipas is leaving the Gamecocks for South Africa’s Amazulu and the move seemed to have taken the steam out of the team as they lost their last two matches to ZPC Kariba and Bulawayo City.
With reports suggesting that former National team and Highlanders coach Rahman Gumbo appearing favourite to replace Antipas, Chicken Inn will have to be at their best to subdue the lowveld Sugar Sugar boys.
On Saturday, Harare City play hosts to Tsholotsho at Rufaro hoping to continue with their impressive home record in which they have scored eight goals conceding two after identical 4-1 score lines over Mutare City Rovers and Hwange respectively.
Tsholotsho will be hoping to put a better show after amassing four points from a possible fifteen and are rooted in the murky waters of relegation.
Former champions Highlanders will make the trip to Baobab Stadium for a date with Ngezi Platinum in what promises to be another tricky encounter. With only three points separating them with Caps United and FC Platinum on the league table Highlanders will have to be brave against the platinum miners.
For Clifton Kadurira it will be a litmus test as he faces one of the Premiership giants and having hosted log leaders Caps United in which he snatched a point he will certainly be looking to match his more experienced opponents.
ZPC Kariba will entertain new boys Mutare City Rovers who managed to record their second victory in the league last weekend.
The Sunday Chidzambwa coached side will fancy their chances over the new boys and with experienced players on their side the power men appear to be favourites.
On Sunday Border Strikers who are yet to register victory will host Hwange at Mandava stadium hoping not only to register their first victory but also to score a goal in this campaign.
Border Strikers have of late been displaying some good football but have been shy to venture forward to find the nets.
On the other hand Hwange would be eager to ease pressure on their coach Mebelo Njekwa, the coalminers who have only managed to collect four points out of fifteen would need to put a better show if they are to entertain hopes of coming out of the relegation zone.
Chapungu will travel to the City of Kings to face league debutants Bulawayo City at Barbourfields Stadium. The Airmen are languishing in the unfashionable relegation zone and a defeat at Barbourfields will further put more misery to the Gweru based side.
Bulawayo City have managed to win once, draw three and losing once and would want to remove the tag of being draw specialists.
In what promises to be the pick of the crop joint log leaders Fc Platinum travel to Rufaro for a date with struggling Harare giants Dynamos.
Dynamos by their standards are facing one of the most difficult start to the league and a match against an in-form Fc Platinum would not have been ideal at this juncture as it signifies gloom for the blue army.
Worse still after suffering a painful 1-0 loss to Caps United in their last home game, a defeat to Norman Mapeza’s team will surely signal the end of a marriage between Dynamos and their Portuguese born Coach Jorge Paulo Silva.
Week 6 Fixtures:
Friday:
Chicken Inn v Triangle (Luveve) Live on Supersport
Saturday:
How Mine v CAPS United (Luveve) Live on Supersport
Harare City v Tsholotsho (Rufaro)
Ngezi Platinum v Highlanders (Baobab)
ZPC Kariba v Mutare City (Nyamhunga)
Sunday:
Border Strikers v Hwange (Maglas)
Bulawayo City v Chapungu (Barbourfields) Live on Supersport
Dynamos v FC Platinum (Rufaro)
