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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
PACESETTERS Ngezi Platinum have a tricky assignment against Triangle at Gibbo tomorrow afternoon as the Castle Lager Premiership championship race reaches the halfway mark this weekend.

The league goes on a break next week and is set to return with a blockbuster showdown between CAPS United and Dynamos in the Harare Derby. Yesterday, Ngezi media officer Calvin Mavhunga said they would want to complete the first round of matches on a high before they brace for the tougher second part of the campaign.

“It is the last game of the first round, we want to wrap it up with a win and remain on top. The whole idea is to cross the 30-mark in terms of points,’’ said Mavhunga. “It is interesting that it is our only second year in the league, but there are a lot of expectations from us as if we have been playing in the league for a long time.’’

Ngezi Platinum go into this battle after beating FC Platinum last weekend.

Meanwhile, Harare City’s revival faces a real test when they meet Kelvin Kaindu’s How Mine in a double-header at Luveve this afternoon. Bantu Rovers and Bulawayo City meet in a lunch-time kick-off at the same venue.

Sunshine Boys coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube returns to the City of Kings without defenders Raymond Uchena, who is suspended and Jimmy Tigere who is away with the national team in South Africa.

“We know we have reliable defenders that are not there, but we have done our homework.

“We have enough cover for them and we play as a team,” said Beefy. “We have made the team to believe in themselves. We have brought their confidence back and have told them to enjoy the game. So far there are more positives than negatives.”

This afternoon, at the National Sports Stadium, Yadah will be hoping to bounce back from a painful loss at the hands of Highlanders when they host Shabanie.

Yadah paid a huge price at Barbourfields when goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube, who has been error-prone this season, made a fatal mistake and gifted Bosso with the goal that made all the difference.

They could also field former CAPS United defender Dennis Dauda who joined them last week after being offloaded by the champions under controversial circumstances.