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David Mandigora

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter—
DAVID MANDIGORA fears that the points his men are dropping in draws could come back to haunt them in their search for the immortality that comes with writing history as the first club in the domestic Premiership to win five league titles on the trot. No club has ever won five championships in succession in the 53-year history of the domestic top-flight league, with Dynamos (twice) and Highlanders leading the way by winning four straight league titles and the Glamour Boys Class of 2015 are fighting to turn themselves into trailblazers.

A powerful and all-conquering DeMbare side won four straight league titles in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1983 before being stopped by Black Rhinos, while a dominant Highlanders side matched that feat by being crowned champions in 1998 /1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

The Glamour Boys, under the guidance of Callisto Pasuwa, won four straight league titles in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and, this year, Mandigora and his men could make history if they win the league championship.

However, after the champions battled back to earn a draw in a 1-1 stalemate against bitter rivals at Barbourfields on Sunday, Mandigora fears that they are dropping too many points, in drawn matches and this could affect their quest to defend the title.

DeMbare have drawn eight of their 17 league matches, winning seven and have just managed a single victory in their last seven matches.

That win came against Bosso, who felt that they deserved a draw in that thriller at Rufaro, had their third goal not have been ruled out in controversial fashion.

With the Young Turks, Kelvin Kaindu and Norman Mapeza, piling on the pressure in this championship race, Mandigora is feeling the heat and not even a point, from a tough duel against Bosso, could mask the fact that his men have been dropping too many points.

And, it’s unlikely to get any easier for the champions in their last 13 league matches.

“It’s getting so competitive. The situation that we have now is that any team in the league can win against any team regardless of names or profile of the clubs,” said Mandigora.

“And the thing about Dynamos is that every game that we play is made difficult by the fact that all teams in the league want to beat Dynamos.

“It has always been like that since long back and our players know that. You have to be on your toes all the time. That’s the nature of playing for or coaching Dynamos.

“Our aim when we went to Bulawayo was to collect three points, but we couldn’t. So I should say we were not happy with the result.

“We didn’t do well, especially in the first half, but we improved in the second. We created more scoring chances in the second half and our game was better compared to the first half.”

Returning forward, Takesure Chinyama, capped a very good day in the office with the equaliser for the champions in a tough game in which an inspired Highlanders, backed by a vociferous huge home crowd that was sensing blood, gave their all.

The Bulawayo giants were dominant in the first half, in which their midfield superiority gave them the edge, but Dynamos, being champions, fought back in the second half and were full value for their point, if not even more.

Ocean Mushure had a very good game and even eliminated Bosso goalscorer, Mthulisi Maphosa, with a cheeky dribble that prematurely ended the midfielder’s stay on the field.

Highlanders have a worse record compared to their bitter rivals DeMbare.

The Bulawayo giants are winless in six matches. Five of them have ended in stalemates and the other one was a defeat to Dynamos at Rufaro.

Bosso have since dropped from the top eight and are currently ninth on the log standings with 22 points.

But while all eyes were on the big boys, Triangle dislodged Chicken Inn from the top of the table at the weekend when they beat ZPC Kariba 2-1 away at Nyamhunga.

Kaindu’s men took their points tally to 32 while second-placed Chicken Inn are on 31 and followed by How Mine and Dynamos both on 29 points.

Chicken Inn, who led the race in the previous weeks, have not won in their last four outings and on Sunday they played out a 1-1 draw at Dongo Sawmill.

Triangle were the only side among the top four that managed to shake off the sloth with the 2-1 win over Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa’s ZPC Kariba on Saturday in Kariba, coming from draws in their last two matches.

FC Platinum have managed to take full advantage to close in and revive their bid for the title. Norman Mapeza’s men crushed Buffaloes 3-0, courtesy of a hat-trick by Brian Muzondiwa away at Sakubva on Sunday to move into fifth position.

They have seen a remarkable turnaround in their last 11 games which lifted them from the relegation zone to within four points of the log leaders.

“We didn’t have a good start, but the most important thing is that we didn’t wilt or lose focus,” said Mapeza.

“We knew things were not okay and we had that belief that one day tables will turn. We discussed it with the players. I told them let’s commit ourselves fully and leave the rest to God.

“But now my only worry is we need consistency. I don’t remember a time when we won three or four games in succession and that alone shows we have a long way to go in terms of consistent performances.”

The former Warriors coach predicted a tough end to this year’s campaign.

“I have been looking at the trends in our football. It looks the competition has been tough and games are unpredictable. I tell you, the team that is going to win the title this season will do so without surpassing the 65 points mark.

“It will be difficult to get to 60 points,” said Mapeza.

CAPS United lost for the first time in an age, after a 0-1 defeat to Harare City, but such is the tightness of the race that the Green Machine are not yet out of it as they trail the leaders by just seven points with 39 points still to play for.