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Thomas Sweswe

Tedious Manyepo Sports Reporter
FORMER Warriors centre-back and ZPC Kariba defensive rock Thomas Sweswe has predicted a scintillating second half of the Premier Soccer League championship marathon and reckons the title dog fight will be more intense this year.

Sweswe yesterday reckoned that the last round of fixtures will “see boys being separated from men”.

The Premiership has taken a two-week break and action will resume on the weekend of July 29-31.

Sweswe’s ZPC Kariba appear to have lost their bearings towards the mid-season break despite having started brightly and looking poised to have a huge stake in the league title’s destiny.

But Sweswe, a veteran of the local Premiership, having seen duty with Sporting Lions, Dynamos, Highlanders and Mwana Africa, backed coach Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa and ZPC Kariba to bounce back.

Although he insisted ZPC Kariba were not playing for the title, the 35-year-old defender said the electricity men could spring a surprise and claim the title.

“It is true that we went to sleep towards the end of the first half of the season. We lost too many points during the period which saw us going for about five matches without tasting victory. It was just a bad spell, but I think we were playing well as a team, but sometimes luck was not on our side.

“I believe we are coming back for the second half a much more organised side than we were. We are not under any pressure to win the title, our aim is to play good football and collect as many points and who knows we may end up grabbing the championship. After all we are still within touching distance of the leaders,” Sweswe said.

The 2014 championship runners-up are sitting on fifth position with 23 points, seven behind log leaders Highlanders.

Sweswe joined the electricity men during the 2015-mid season period from South African Division 1 side Black Leopards on a one-year contract, but has since extended his stay to the end of the current season.

ZPC Kariba are also home to several seasoned players like Limited Chikafa, Tawanda Munyanduri, Tendai Hove and Godknows Mangani and Sweswe is confident their experience will come in handy in the title run in.

Meanwhile, 2010 Soccer Star of the Year second runner-up Allan Gahadzikwa is on the verge of joining pacesetters Highlanders after being deemed excess to requirements at CAPS United.

The former Motor Action and FC Platinum midfielder found the going tough at the Green Machine where he struggled to shrug off stiff competition from the youthful Kudzai Nyamupfukudza and Devon Chafa.

But, his workmanship has charmed Bosso coach Elroy Akbay who has shown interest.

Yesterday, Gahadzikwa trained with Bosso and is expected to seal a deal with the Bulawayo giants in the next few days.

“I am interested in Gahadzikwa and this afternoon (yesterday) the player trained with the rest of the squad. He needs to agree personal terms with the club before joining us otherwise I need his skill and strength in my team. The deal could be sealed any time in the coming few days,” Akbay said.

If Gahadzikwa joins the Bulawayo giants, he will face direct competition from the combative Simon Munawa who has made the position his for the past three seasons.

“We already have Munawa on the position which Allan plays. I will have a positive headache, but I could even use both depending on the formation I would be playing on different match days,” said Akbay.

The Dutch coach said he could still sign some two or three players provided they are good enough to play for his team.