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Eddie Chikamhi-Senior Sports Reporter

NGEZI Platinum Stars have the league title race firmly in their grasp as they face unpredictable Premiership old horses Hwange at the Colliery tomorrow.

The platinum miners need at least eight points from the last five matches to be crowned champions for the first time since they got promoted in 2016.

With seven points separating them from the chasing pack, their destiny is definitely in their own hands, going into the last five games of the season. It’s theirs to lose. 

But their resolve will once again be tested at the Colliery tomorrow.

Many topflight football teams will testify Hwange is a difficult place to go especially at this time of the year. 

While Ngezi Platinum Stars will be playing to consolidate their place at the top, the hosts are desperate for points to ensure they survive the chop after returning to the topflight league this season.

Hwange sit on the middle of the road at number nine on the log standings, with 37 points. But they are clearly not off the hook as only six points separate them from the relegation zone.   

Their opponents Ngezi Platinum Stars, in contrast, have usurped total control of the marathon. 

But their coach Takesure Chiragwi has always reiterated they cannot feel comfortable yet and would want to see strong performances from his players until the last game. 

Ngezi Platinum Stars look determined and, in their quest to conquer the Colliery, they travelled to Hwange three days before their game in order to acclimatise with the conditions. 

In fact, they are going for a league and cup double, after reaching the final of the Chibuku Super Cup in grand style last week when they thrashed Black Rhinos 3-0.

They will host giants Dynamos in the final of the country’s premier knockout tournament at Baobab on December 3. 

“If that happens (winning the double), I’ll be more than happy because we are playing in a competition,” said Chiragwi in a recent interview.  “The most important thing is improving the team. 

“We improve the team so that it becomes easy to win games; we make sure that we score goals to win games and defend well to win titles,” Chiragwi added.

The Mhondoro-Ngezi side have since surpassed the 55 points that they managed last season when finishing fourth.   

FC Platinum’s four-year supremacy collapses

If Ngezi Platinum Stars achieve their target this year, they would end FC Platinum’s four-season domination in the league. 

The Zvishavane platinum miners have a tricky assignment against 2025 champions Chicken Inn at Luveve this afternoon. 

Despite mounting a strong second half comeback, the Zvishavane side have dropped points at crucial moments and their coach Norman Mapeza has accepted their fate for this season after falling 10 points behind their platinum mine-backed rivals. 

“I have to be honest with you, mathematically our chances of winning the championship this season, we put them maybe at 20 percent. I think we lost some crucial points along the way.

“If you look at our last three matches, I think if we really wanted to push for the championship we should have at least collected seven points minimum. But, it didn’t happen. 

“So, we just take each game as it comes and see what happens in the remaining five games of the season,” Mapeza said.

FC Platinum have not won a match in their last three games. They relapsed to fifth place in the race, with 47 points, while Chicken Inn are two rungs down with 44 points. Both teams were involved in stalemates in their last outings. 

 Gem Boys to continue mining for points

Ambitious Mutare-based outfit Manica Diamonds have vowed to continue searching for more points after moving into second place with the big win over giants Dynamos in a rescheduled fixture at Gibbo on Wednesday. 

The Gem Boys, who have been on the road for most of the campaign since their Sakubva home ground was banned this season, arrived in Gweru yesterday to face new boys Sheasham at Bata this afternoon.

Their coach Jairos Tapera yesterday told the Zimpapers Sports Hub that Ngezi Platinum Stars have the destiny of this year’s championship in their hands, but his team will be lurking in the shadows to cash-in should Ngezi Platinum Stars falter along the way. 

“It’s difficult when you have a team that is seven points ahead, with only five games left. It’s in their hands and it’s up to them to give up such an advantage. 

“But we have to be professional. Ours is to try and win all our remaining games and see how it ends at the end of the season. We have to maintain focus, that is what is important at this juncture,” said Tapera. 

 Mudadi returns to battle Rhinos

Giants Dynamos gave away their chances to bounce back into the bigger picture when they lost 0-1 to Manica Diamonds during the midweek.

A possible ambush by relegation fighters Black Rhinos awaits them at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow. DeMbare have often found the terrain tough and unforgiving against the struggling teams. 

Rhinos go into the match on the back of a four-match unbeaten run in the league, as coach Saul Chaminuka is sensing opportunities to escape the red zone. 

DeMbare will welcome back key midfielder Donald Mudadi from a two-match suspension. They know it will be next to impossible to wrestle the crown from Ngezi Platinum Stars, but they are not giving up yet.

Fixtures: 

Today: GreenFuel v Bulawayo Chiefs (Green Fuel), Chicken Inn v FC Platinum (Luveve), Cranborne Bullets v Triangle (NSS), Sheasham v Manica Diamonds (Bata), Simba Bhora v Herentals (Baobab)

Tomorrow: Dynamos v Black Rhinos (NSS), Hwange v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Colliery), Highlanders v CAPS United (Barbourfields), Yadah vs ZPC Kariba (Baobab