Mugove Chigada

Deputy Sports Editor

A win for Yadah against Simba Bhora at Wadzanayi on Saturday will complicate life for all the Castle Lager Premiership teams in the relegation matrix.

Highlanders on 38 (1), Chicken Inn 38 (-2), Manica Diamonds 38 (-4), Dynamos 38 (-6) Triangle 37 (3), Bikita Minerals 37 (-12), Green Fuel on 36 (-2) and Yadah on 35 (-6) are all in the thick of things.

At least three teams from those eight will join Kwekwe United in the relegation pot. And goal difference will also play a big role by end of the games on Sunday.

The probability is high that two of the teams likely to be relegated will come from the matches – Manica Diamonds versus Bikita Minerals and Triangle against GreenFuel.

It therefore means a Yadah win, especially by a high scoreline, drags all the other teams on 38 points, Bosso, DeMbare and Chicken Inn, in to the mix.

That same result will also mean a draw for teams on 37 points leaves them vulnerable.

But reality also is that this relegation fight is more than just that. Below are part of the permutations before the Super Sunday:

– Yadah will be relegated if they lose their game or draw with Simba Bhora.

– Yadah will survive if they win by a big scoreline and hope that Green Fuel and Bikita Minerals lose or draw their games while Chicken Inn versus Highlanders produces a winner and Dynamos lose to FC Platinum.

– GreenFuel will survive if they win, regardless of other results on Sunday. A draw and loss will see them relegated from the Premiership.

– Bikita Minerals will survive if they beat Manica Diamonds and results from other centres will not matter. A draw will not work for them as they have a negative -12 goal difference while a loss will see them going down.

– Triangle will survive if they win regardless of results elsewhere. They can still survive with a draw if Manica Diamonds versus Bikita produces a winner, Yadah lose, Dynamos fail to get a point while Highlanders versus Chicken Inn produces a winner.

– Dynamos can survive with just a point or win from their game against FC Platinum. They can still survive in defeat if Yadah, GreenFuel and Bikita lose their respective games.

– Manica Diamonds can survive with at least a draw from their match against Bikita.

– Highlanders and Chicken Inn will both survive with a draw. Bosso and the Gamecocks can still survive in defeat if Yadah lose or if matches involving Green Fuel, Bikita, Manica, Triangle and Dynamos are favourable to them. In that case goal difference will also come into play.

That intriguing situation in the relegation fight makes Sunday fixtures the real climax of the 2025 season.

Meanwhile, the relegation of four teams will bring to 24 the number of teams that have been relegated from the PSL since 2017 when the league added teams from 16 to 18.

Other relegated teams over that period include Tsholotsho, Bantu Rovers, Nichrut, Bulawayo City, Mutare City, Shabanie Mine, Chapungu, TelOne, Mushowani, Tenax, Whawha, Black Rhinos, Triangle, Sheasham, Cranborne, Bulawayo Chiefs, Hwange, Chegutu and Arenel.

SATURDAY

TelOne v Scottland – Ascot

MWOS v Ngezi Platinum – Ngoni

Herentals v ZPC Kariba – Rufaro

SUNDAY

GreenFuel v Triangle – GreenFuel Arena

Chicken Inn v Highlanders – BF

Manica Diamonds v Bikita – Sakubva

Simba v Yadah – Wadzanayi

Dynamos v FC Platinum – Rufaro

Kwekwe v CAPS United – Ascot