A turn around has transpired in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) with the title chase being as clear as mud because of the stiff competition on the 1st position of the log thus making it scintillating like the English Premier League(EPL).
Unlike yest year stories when Dynamos FC , Caps United FC and Highlanders FC were the only known teams, Chicken Inn gave a surprise in 2015 PSL season where teams like Blackpool and ZPC Kariba failed such a feat. Moreover Hwange Mine FC who had been an old hand in the PSL are within spitting distance of the relegation zone.
Caps United woke from slumber in 2016 PSL season to clinch the title after Dynamos’ 4 consecutive years of dominance, the latter being depicted like Manchester United FC in EPL. Dynamos a community football club has stood the taste of time against company and individual owned football clubs like Ngezi Platinum owned by Zimplats and Yadah FC owned by Prophet Walter Magaya respectively to mention but a few.
Black Rhinos FC opened the season rejuvenated after some time in the Northern Region Division One League bringing competition in the league.Chicken Inn FC ‘s good nose on the league title makes them a threat to other teams this year on the title chase. Dynamos FC are also hungry for the title so that they enter the regional competitions which has become a good platform for marketing players .
Although the title chase used to be between two teams for instance Dynamos FC vs Caps United FC 2016, Dynamos FC vs Chicken Inn FC 2015, Dynamos FC vs ZPC Kariba FC 2014, Dynamos FC vs FC Platinum 2013, this time around many teams are title contenders as the matches played can portray.
In the EPL , spotlight on the league rose because all the teams in the league garner points for the title chase not to ease relegation pressure.Teams like Chelsea FC who at some time got relegated also clinch the title.Chelsea FC’s persistence in the title chase resulted in Russian businessman Roman Abramovich coming on board.
Money plays a central role in the EPL league but also the fighting spirit exuded by the football clubs highlight that a club not on a spending spree buying players can also win the title.
Arsenal FC , Liverpool FC , Manchester City FC, Manchester United FC and Chelsea FC have always been title contenders in many seasons automatically bringing sparkling moments to the football supporters.The intriguing sense of the title winner keeps the league lively.
La Liga rated the most interesting league world wide by sports analysts has a different ending.La liga is better than EPL said Alan Shearer after Real Madrid won the Champions league Cup.La Liga top teams, Barcelona and Real Madrid win their matches amassing more points that shows there are the title contenders than other teams.
Other teams play well and have flair for sport but Barcelona and Real Madrid are a way ahead of them.Zimbabwe football evolving along the EPL style does not make it below par as teams play different from the La Liga league.If Zimbabwe football has only two teams dominating, competition would be dull and sponsors would withdraw their finances.Sponsors like to be associated with large audience of which Real Madrid and Barcelona has achieved .
Italian league has a dilemma that if a team plays well, it becomes vulnerable to match fixers.Although the match fixing cancer is slowly fading because of bust – ups by the press, they need to be competitive more on the title race for them to lift Champions League Cup.
Challenges in the league makes the league exciting and captivating. Super Cups in the international leagues like the Challenge Cup in Zimbabwe by Delta Beverages portrays that two teams were of the same performance last season although the other won the league title.
Zimbabwe PSL 2017 season has many teams in contention of the title race. FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum FC ,Chicken Inn FC, Caps United FC and Dynamos FC can not be written off for the title chase at the moment.To many it looks like the title chase will shift from big known teams to those that are financially equipped.
This has not seemed so exactly because clubs like Caps United FC and Dynamos FC still hold reins on the league title.Many community and individual clubs are now defunct like Black Aces FC; Arcadia and Black pool and Sporting Lions to mention but a few as money plays a pivotal role in football.
However big clubs with financial constraints still attract players because of their achievements and good names. Lukaku moved to Manchester United FC and Wayne Rooney snubbed the China move just like Zimbabwe stars flocking Dynamos FC and Caps United because they are some opportunities gained in juxtaposition of wealthy.
Those players who move to known clubs are on the limelight to further their professions whilst rich clubs only have experienced players who will be playing because of the rich pickings. But all in all , the teams are eyeing the league title with confidence and they trustfully bank on their players.
The improvements in the domestic league as many teams are fighting for the title race not to evade relegation makes the matches worth watching.Frequent changing of teams on the the 1st position draws crowds to the matches as one would be in shroud of the game outcome.
2017 PSL season opened with Black Rhinos leading the pack before Ngezi Platinum was also on the summit. Chicken Inn are the log leaders at the moment with 2 points ahead of Ngezi Platinum whilst Dynamos FC are third with 3 points deficit and two games in hand.
PSL should be a football hub with foreign players with local players also being churned out for foreign clubs.Foreign based players boost the national teams.FIFA regulations now banning international transfers of players under the age of 18 makes African clubs benefit from their own flair before European leagues snatch them.
Although many believe that Europe is milking Africa by taking its stars, one must understand that experience gained in Europe helps one’s nation.Foreign based players are the cornerstone of the national teams and domestic leagues must be competitive for local players to be bought overseas.
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