The ManicaPost
Moffat Mungazi’s FOOTY FOOTNOTES
WITH the curtain having come down on the 2018 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season we relive some of the term’s major highlights which, naturally, generated some interesting points. They say numbers do not lie and the final log standings become a somewhat true reflection that mirrors how much the teams put into the campaign . . .
Platinum Distinction
Make theirs a double! FC Platinum were back on the podium again for the second successive season as champions in a season they beat and bettered their own records set last season. Coach Norman Mapeza and forward Rodwell Chinyengetere scored personal milestones after retaining the top individual accolades as they were crowned Coach and Soccer Star of the Year respectively. Their cousins Ngezi Platinum Stars were also-rans, however; finishing a distant second and 13 points of the pace following a near-flawless start to the marathon.
The Usual Suspects
Traditional giants Dynamos, Highlanders and CAPS United huffed and puffed as they fell by the wayside again, with their fans enduring a frustrating and disappointing season that neither promised nor delivered much. The worse for wear were DeMbare who were in real jeopardy of demotion as they flirted with relegation while MaKeKepe glided down deeper than in 2017 and Highlanders flickered some humble hope of getting back to glory with their rebuilding exercise that is taking shape under club legend Madinda Ndlovu.
The Surprise Packages
Of the four teams promoted in 2018, two (Herentals and Bulawayo Chiefs) stayed up and the other two (Mutare City Rovers and Nichrut) went down. Following their relegation last season Harare City dusted themselves up after grabbing the How Mine franchise and finished in the top half of the table while also enjoying a run to the Chubuku Super Cup finals.
Triangle matched their own highest ever finish as they clinched fourth spot and the icing on the cake was their Chibuku Super Cup triumph.
Herentals, tied on points with Bosso in fifth place, settled for sixth position in only their maiden appearance; with their benefector and striker Innocent Benza making history by becoming the oldest player to ply in the elite league and also the oldest goal scorer in the division.
Returnees bite the dust again
Mutare City Rovers and Shabanie Mine appeared to have learned nothing during their stints in the top-tier league before as they could not pull their weight and finished bottom of the pile, with the two teams having the least wins, the worst defence and poorest attack.
Battling financial demons saw them losing the Premiership war and precipitated their eventual downfall.
Coaching casualties
It would not be a normal or complete season without clubs expelling coaches. It was not surprising, therefore, that Lloyd Mutasa, Tonderai Ndiraya, Joseph Takaringofa, Darlington Dodo and Amini Soma Phiri, among others, did not last the distance at their respective clubs after being shunted out.
Mukamba Madness
The talented but wayward forward pulled his indiscipline and disappearance antics on paymasters even as he straddled the capital city’s blue and green divide while turning out for both crosstown rivals Dynamos and CAPS United in the same season.
In the end he vanished from the DeMbare radar upon his return to the club, sinking into oblivion as he relapsed into substance abuse problems.
No hard life for Zvirekwi
Even as his left arm got amputated following a road accident, Hardlife Zvirekwi’s career would, thankfully, not be decapitated.
The former Warriors utility player was briefly sidelined but remained steadfastly undeterred; returned to the pitch to captain the Green Machine again and even had goals in him.
There, avid reader, are a few picks of some of the incidences that underlined this season. You can share yours with us . . .
ENJOY A BLESSED AND BLISSFUL CHRISTMAS!
If it is about football that you care let’s share the cheer because we are made for the game, mad about the game!
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