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Fungai Muderere
HAVE the scoring boots gone out of stock?
Against a background of the fact that from eight players that managed to reach double figures in the 2021-2022 season, only two have so far scored this season, this is probably a question that has recently been boggling the minds of hordes of local football enthusiasts three weeks into the 2023 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign.
Dynamos’ Ghanaian forward Emmanuel Paga and reigning Soccer Star of the Year Walter Musona of FC Platinum have so far scored a goal each for their respective clubs.
Paga, who last term had 10 goals under his belt, was on target when DeMbare trounced the league’s newboys Sheasham in a week two encounter.
Musona, who had 14 goals to his name last season, was on target last Sunday when Pure Platinum Play were edged 2-1 by Bulawayo giants Highlanders in a match that was played at Barbourfields Stadium.
We wonder if the Premier Soccer League gunslingers are still loading their weapons, as the 2021-2022 season Golden Boot Award winner William Manondo of Caps United is yet to score together with Ngezi Platinum’s Delic Murimba, Chicken Inn’s Brian Muza and Elie Ilunga who was previously with Black Rhinos and is now with Dynamos.
Highlanders’ Lynoth Chikuhwa and Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya who does duty for Pure Platinum Play complete the list of the players who managed to reach double figures in the previous season but are yet to open their accounts this term.
Last season, Manondo had a total of 17 goals, Murimba was on 13, Muza got 11, Chikuhwa amassed 10 together with Paga, and Ngwenya in a campaign that saw a total of 61 goals being scored in the opening three weekends as compared to 35 that have been scored so far in the period under review.
On the opening weekend of the 2021 /22 season, 22 goals were scored with the biggest margin winner being FC Platinum who clobbered Tenax CS FC 6-1, Ngezi Platinum Stars’ 5-0 victory against Bulawayo City and Manica Diamonds who smacked Whawha 4-0.
All the three teams which suffered heavy defeats last season were relegated.
Match Day Two of last season had 14 goals, with match day three having 25 goals.
This time around, the opening day of the season had 11 goals, with CAPS United’s 2-0 win against Manica Diamonds being the biggest winning margin.
Match day two had 13 goals and this season’s fixtures programme produced 11 goals.
Meanwhile, the Bulawayo 21st derby tie between Chicken Inn and Highlanders explodes on Good Friday at Barbourfields Stadium.
Bosso will go into the match with their tails up after having accounted for defending champions FC Platinum last Sunday on a 2-1 score line.
Gamecocks, who are on position six with five points, are coming from a nil all draw against winless Cranborne Bullets.
In other games set for Easter Friday, Black Rhinos will face seemingly resurgent CAPS United at National Sports Stadium while Ngezi Platinum Stars take on Herentals at Baobab Stadium.
Pure Platinum Play have a date with rebuilding Bulawayo Chiefs at Mandava Stadium in a repeat of the Castle Challenge Cup which was played as a season’s opener.
On Easter Saturday, red-hot Premier League returnees Hwange welcome newbies Sheasham at Luveve Stadium.
On Easter Sunday, ZPC Kariba will fight it out against Triangle at National Sports Stadium.
The game between early pacesetters Dynamos and Cranborne Bullets is scheduled for Easter Monday at National Sports Stadium.
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
