PSL roundup with Brenna Matendere

Premier Soccer League action returns this weekend after a three-week sabbatical and brings an acid test for log leaders Harare City.

The Sunshine Boys, still perched on the log summit, meet reigning champions Dynamos in their first encounter today, before they hit the road to the Eastern Highlands for a weekend date with Triangle.

In their last five matches, the Bigboy Mawiwi-coached side, powered by utility player Silas Songani, bagged all the 15 league points on offer, stretching their goal tally to 26. This makes them the second best scorers after Buffaloes, with 31 goals.

Their goalkeeper, Francis Tizai, has also performed exceptionally well, having conceded 14 goals in the 19 matches he has played for City so far in the season.

However, that purple patch will be put to the test when they meet the defending champions and fellow title contenders Dynamos, or when they come up against sides that are battling against relegation, as the league slides towards the home straight.

Starting with the midweek feature, Mawiwi will have to find an effective formula to stop the a Dembare still licking the wounds of being recently booted out of the BancABC Cup by lowly Shabanie Mine last weekend.

City’s weekend opponents Buffaloes are no pushovers either. The Mutare side is not yet safe from the drop and will therefore be putting up a fight to ensure they collect maximum points on their backyard.

The action returns on the back of coaches indicating they were not happy with the recent three-week break caused by national team assignments.

“ZIFA and the PSL should have at least worked out how the league games would be played way before the national team matches. Right now, the players have been affected by the weeks of inaction and the rhythm of the game will be difficult to re-discover,” said one coach.

“Some players will be facing problems with psychological fitness when the PSL matches begin. It’s a blunder by ZIFA and PSL and it should never be allowed to happen again.”

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