AS the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League resumes this weekend following the Fifa international break, clubs facing demotion from the top league have tough duels, with bottom-placed Arenel Movers welcoming Dynamos to Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
It is not looking good for the sweet-makers, who look set for a brief stay in the top league after they were elevated this year.
They face the dreaded chop, holding a meagre 22 points from 29 games with four wins and 10 draws, while suffering 15 defeats in 29 matches. They have five games remaining to conjure a miracle.
However, coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube, who took over from Farai Tawachera two months ago, believes Arenel will survive relegation.
Ncube appealed for fair play from match officials, who have hogged the limelight for the wrong reasons this year, while the coaches have had to bear the brunt of paying heavy fines for attacking the referees.
“We are not going to respect Dynamos. We are going to fire from all cylinders. Each of the games that are remaining for us will be a cup final. If we win all five remaining games, we end the season on 37 points and that will leave us with a chance to survive,” he said.
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“We appeal to the referees to give us fair play regardless of our financial situation. They should consider us as a team that is competing and not what happened in our last game against Yadah.”
Arenel lost 5-3 to Yadah in their last league game.
Just above Arenel Movers are Chegutu Pirates on position 17, with a paltry 23 points, and are away to Ngezi Platinum Stars at Baobab Stadium on Saturday.
Hwange, 16th on the log with 28 points, travel 1 000km to Nyamhunga Stadium to face ZPC Kariba on Saturday, while Bikita Minerals, also promoted to the top league this year, host Green Fuel at Sakubva Stadium on the same days.
Bikita are on 31 points and Green Fuel are also not safe from the chop, with 33 points.
Bulawayo Chiefs, with 31 points, clash with Caps United at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
Yadah, TelOne and Kariba are also not safe from the chop.
Fixtures
Saturday: Bikita Minerals vs Green Fuel, Sakubva, ZPC Kariba vs Hwange (Nyamhunga), FC Platinum vs Yadah (Mandava), Herenetals vs Simba Bhora (Rufaro), Chicken Inn vs TelOne (Luveve), Ngezi Platinum Stars vs Chegutu Pirates (Baobab)
Sunday: Manica Diamonds vs Highlanders (Sakubva), Arenel Movers vs Dynamos (Barbourfields), Caps United vs Bulawayo Chiefs (Rufaro)