MUTASA EXPECTS FIREWORKS Lloyd Mutasa
Lloyd Mutasa

Lloyd Mutasa

Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS coach Lloyd Mutasa expects fireworks on the final day of the Castle Lager Premiership title next weekend when the Glamour Boys and FC Platinum make the final leap in search of honours.

Mutasa has declared that the battle for this year’s championship is still on despite the giant strides made by log leaders FC Platinum who have placed one hand on the title ahead of a tense finish of the 2017 marathon to be decided on the last day of the season.

The platinum miners killed two birds with one stone when they eliminated Ngezi Platinum from the race and set themselves up as favourites for their first league title with a 2-1 win at Mandava on Saturday.

Ngezi Platinum Stars had been firmly in the race and wanted a win over their platinum cousins to brighten their hopes.

However, Tonderai Ndiraya’s men faltered they gave away a first half lead to fall to goals from Kelvin Moyo and Rodwell Chinyengetere.

Giants Dynamos were also winning 3-2 at Bantu Rovers but the win was eclipsed by FC Platinum’s win which kept the Zvishavane miners two points clear at the top with just one match to go.

The feeling in Zvishavane is that the title is now for FC Platinum to lose.

But Mutasa, buoyed by the recollection that his side has been in such tense situations before and prevailed, yesterday said the Glamour Boys will fight until the last minute of the season.

“It’s good for Zimbabwean football that the championship will be decided on the last day. I believe it’s a sign of the healthy competition that is needed in any league to make the game exciting.

“But playing Chicken Inn in the last match, I don’t think it will be an easy game. Neither will it be easy for FC Platinum away at Chapungu. So the fans are in for a big treat.

“It’s unfortunate the destiny of the championship is not in our hands. Probably what we need for now is to focus on winning the last match and then see what happens.

“This has been a roller-coaster season but I personally liked the way our boys responded after going through those occasional lean spells. If you look closely, we have often come back strong after losing matches. This has happened again and we hope we will maintain that.

“I am sure we have done our best because from the beginning nobody gave us a chance. I know there are still some people who don’t give us a chance even as things stand as they are but to our fans we say keep on supporting us. They have been fantastic this year and as a team we have always wanted to make them happy,” said Mutasa.

Dynamos have been involved in these roller-coaster finishes on many occasions.

In 2010 they just lost to Motor Action on goal difference after clawing back into the race and finishing tied on 66 points.

But they were successful with the smash-and-grab the following year when they upstaged FC Platinum in the penultimate game of the season to begin a four-year reign, interestingly winning all the titles on the last day under Callisto Pasuwa.

This was despite having at one point trailed FC Platinum by massive 12 points before Pasuwa had taken over the reins from Mutasa.

FC Platinum only needed victory over second-placed DeMbare to seal the title with a game to spare and had prepared for a big ceremony in anticipation of the success but Dynamos spoiled the party courtesy of an own goal by defender Daniel Veremu.

Even though the platinum miners went on to win their last game against Shooting Stars 3-1, DeMbare still wrapped up the title with a 2-0 victory over Kiglon.

Although FC Platinum suffered the big disappointment with Rahman Gumbo at the helm, Mapeza appear to have drawn priceless lessons from that experience especially after suffering the almost similar frustrations in the previous two seasons.

The platinum miners were involved in a two-horse race with Chicken Inn in 2015 but the Gamecocks won it with a game to spare after beating Harare City 3-2 after Mapeza’s men had stumbled with a 1-1 draw against CAPS United.

Dynamos had recovered a little too late and their 2-0 win over Chapungu could not account for anything in that race and the best they could get was the silver spoon ahead of FC Platinum.

Last year, FC Platinum gave away control of the race with two games remaining when they suffered a 2-1 loss at Harare City as eventual champions CAPS United beat Border Strikers to go two points clear.

Makepekepe had to hold on in the last two matches winning against Ngezi and Chapungu even with FC Platinum also getting maximum points.

CAPS United were crowned at Ascot, the same as Dynamos in 2012 following a draw against Hardbody.

But will Ascot again be the venue for the coronation for the third time in five years?

“I do not want to talk much about winning the title. Yes, it is in our hands but we have to win our last game against Chapungu and we will be champions.

“We have been doing very well in our previous away matches and I think we have what it takes to win away to Chapungu.

“I say s0 because it’s all about teamwork, everyone at the club has been supportive and we are where we are because of that hard work,” said Mapeza.

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