Zimbabwe PSL title race set for explosive finale

FC Platinum are finally top of the standings in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League after months of frustrating inconsistency, but they have a battle on their hands in fending off various rivals heading into the last five matches of a genuinely competitive campaign.

Norman Mapeza's team, whose quest for a maiden title triumph has grown increasingly frantic with each passing season, now enjoy a one point lead over second-placed Dynamos. Ngezi are a further point adrift in third.

Fourth-placed Chicken Inn, meanwhile, have also revived fading hopes of a second title in three seasons after ending a disastrous four-match winless run with a 2-0 success over Harare City last week, to come within four points of the summit.

Yet the most striking observations from the past two matchdays centre around Dynamos' apparent lack of Big Match Temperament, just as Platinum begin to show some remarkable resilience as the temperature rises in the title race.

Dynamos were expected to make light of a trip to struggling ZPC Kariba and the subsequent home tie against relegation favourites Tsholotsho, only to slump to identical 1-1 draws and surrender pole position.

Platinum, for their part, momentarily overcame the bug of inconsistency to emerge victorious against Highlanders (2-1) and derby rivals Shabanie (2-0), assignments which had looked more challenging on paper.

In Dynamos' case, more than the results themselves, it was the disjointed manner of their performances over the two matches in question which may have foreshadowed a testing run in for a team who have traditionally thrived on late season pressure.

A lack of precision and invention in midfield has often crippled this class of 2017, but fault lines seem to be cropping up all over the place now, and not surprisingly, they have managed just two wins in their last seven matches.

Lincoln Zvasiya is finally being found out in central defence, striker Christian Ntouba has struggled to recapture his self-belief since that red card debacle last month, and Ocean Mushure's touch seems to have deserted him following a brief injury layoff.

Add a Denver Mukamba in perpetual self-destructive mode and, for now at least, it is difficult to imagine exactly where the kind of inspiration needed to carry Lloyd Mutasa's team over the finish line could emerge from.

In truth though, Dynamos' mere presence in the top four is in itself an astounding feat given their preseason woes, when virtually every player who could find an alternative base deserted ship as the Harare giants were forced to settle for other clubs' rejects for new signings.

It is therefore a testament of their trademark indefatigable spirit that Dynamos have managed to turn a season some feared would rank among their worst ever into one in which they have put up a sustained title challenge.

That strength of character, however, seems to be deserting them when they need it most, with Platinum and Ngezi primed to take full advantage if they can hold their own nerves.