Blessing Malinganiza
Zimpapers Sports Hub
WITH just 11 games left in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, the fight for survival has reached fever pitch.
While the title race simmers, the real drama unfolds at the bottom, where nearly the entire league remains locked in a desperate scramble to avoid the drop.
Historically, 41 points has been the magic number for safety after TelOne and Hwange were relegated in 2019 on 40 points.
Yet after Matchday 23, only three teams, Simba Bhora (44), Scottland (43), and MWOS (42), have crossed that threshold.
Shockingly, even fourth-placed FC Platinum (40 points) linger just below the safety line, proving no one is truly secure.
For some, the equation is simple.
Ngezi Platinum (38), TelOne (37), Herentals (35), and ZPC Kariba (31) need at least 10 more points, a manageable task.
But for the rest, the battle is brutal.
From 9th to 18th, the relegation dogfight is intense.
Highlanders and CAPS United, tied on 28 points, hover precariously above the abyss.
At the very bottom, Kwekwe United (9 points) stare at near-certain doom, requiring a miraculous 11-game winning streak just to reach 42 points.
Sandwiched in between, a cluster of clubs, Dynamos (16), Manica Diamonds (23), Yadah (24), GreenFuel (24), Triangle United (24), Bikita Minerals (25), and Chicken Inn (26), are entrenched in the survival scrap.
Among them, Manica Diamonds remain defiant, insisting they can claw their way out.
Their season has been a rollercoaster of grit and frustration.
Their Achilles’ heel is their toothless attack, netting a meager 12 goals, pale in comparison to Simba Bhora and Ngezi Platinum’s explosive 28 each.
Yet, there’s a silver lining, they have doubled Dynamos’ tally and can take pride in their rock-solid defense.
Conceding just 17 goals, on par with Highlanders and TelOne, they have been a tough nut to crack.
Between the sticks, Tedious Baye has been a revelation, racking up nine clean sheets, a stat that could spark a late-season resurgence.
Baye believes mindset shift is key to revival.
“We’ve got to sharpen up, mentality and unity. That’s the only way back to winning ways.”
“Staying up isn’t just about the team, it’s about keeping football alive in Mutare. If we go down, even our CVs take a hit. Nobody wants to be part of a sinking ship.”
He added: “Eight clean sheets in the last 11 games, that’s my target. If we hit that, we survive. Simple as that.
“Results? Tough. But my form? Sharp. I have conceded, but I’ve also kept us in games. Last season was my worst in the Premier League, now it’s about bouncing back stronger.”