Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
HARARE giants Dynamos, still basking in the success of the derby win against bitter rivals CAPS United, are already bracing up for another tough challenge when they travel to Zvishavane this weekend.
The Glamour Boys will face last season’s runners-up FC Platinum but the champions are not happy with the arrangement as they feel they should be the home team in this first leg of the back-to-back fixtures.
The Premier Soccer League will resume this weekend after taking a two-week break and DeMbare, who have now slashed their backlog to two matches, including the nullified match against Hwange, are scheduled to first fulfil their Week 15 match.
According to the original fixture, Dynamos play their first match against FC Platinum away.
However, the Glamour Boys argue that this match at Mandava is the one that should be rescheduled to another date while they join the other teams in Week 16 with a home match at Rufaro.
“We don’t want to appear as if we are complaining too much but football must be the winner at the end of the day.
“We are just asking for fairness because all teams are supposed to be resuming their games on Week 16 and as Dynamos we understand it’s a full fixture programme for all teams.
“If you look closely at the fixtures, that is when we are supposed to be hosting FC Platinum, so how can we be playing away?
“The Week 15 fixture is the one that is supposed to be affected and should be rescheduled to another date to be determined by the PSL.
“It appears like we are trying to solve one problem by creating another,” said Dynamos secretary-general Ray Kazembe.
Their rivals CAPS United will be travelling to Hwange where they face a difficult task to halt an unpleasant run of three defeats in succession, including a 2-1 home defeat to the coal-miners at home two weeks ago.
The Green Machine need to urgently turn around their campaign after dropping to 11th on the log table following the latest 1-0 to Dynamos in the Harare derby.
But they should not expect an easy assignment as Hwange are also looking to spruce up their image in the wake of a slump that derailed their campaign to find themselves sitting eighth on the log table midway through the race.
Log leaders Highlanders will have to negotiate another tricky curve when they engage basement side Quelaton at Barbourfields on Sunday.
The Bulawayo giants, who have done well this season to remain unbeaten in 15 starts, are aware of the hurdle they face after sharing the spoils with the same side in a 1-1 draw in the first leg.
A good match is also on the offing in Harare when Monomotapa host Motor action at Rufaro on Sunday.
PSL chief executive, Kenny Ndebele, said they faced a number of challenges in the first half of the year and they still want to finish the season at the end of November.
He said the fixtures programme was heavily affected by the participation of four teams in the continental inter-club competitions.
“I think we started the season rather late. In future the season should kick off at the beginning of March to avoid congestion and backlog.
“This year we had four clubs participating in the Caf Inter-Club Competitions (Hwange, Motor Action, FC Platinum and Dynamos) and this caused a congestion.
“The Warriors' three matches in June also caused a fixture congestion.
“The target is to close the season at the end of November 2012. There is need to make preparations for 2013 season before the end of December 2012, to avoid congestion.
“It’s a pity that clubs cannot afford the costs of electricity charges for stadium floodlights, otherwise we would play some of our matches under floodlights,” said Ndebele.
Fixtures
Saturday 4 August (Week 15)
FC Platinum v Dynamos (Mandava)
Saturday 4 August (Week 16)
Chicken Inn FC v Harare City (Luveve), Monomotapa v Motor Action (Rufaro), Black Mambas v Blue Rangers (Morris Depot)
Sunday
Buffaloes v Hardbody (Sakubva), Highlanders v Quelaton (Barbourfields), Shabanie v Gunners (Maglas), Hwange v CAPS United (Colliery)
Postponed
Dynamos v FC Platinum (Rufaro)