Lawrence Moyo
Head Zimpapers Sports
HIGHLANDERS, who threatened to run away with the championship at one stage, would have been relegated from the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League had the season been based on the second-half of the 2023 campaign.
Bosso, who were unbeaten in the opening 19 matches, had the Fourth WORST record in the last 17 games of the season.
They were only better than Cranborne Bullets, Triangle and Bulawayo Chiefs in the second half.
A good start to the season is the reason Highlanders eventually finished in fifth place on the final league standings.
They lost SEVEN times in the second half of the season, dropping 19 points more and conceding 18 goals in 17 games, compared to just four in the opening half of the season.
Highlanders managed just four wins in the second half of the season, a poor record only beaten by Triangle and Cranborne Bullets, who both won three games.
They managed just nine goals in 17 matches of the second half, with only Cranborne Bullets doing worse (eight) — the only two teams without double digits.
l NGEZI PLATINUM STARS
Ngezi Platinum have a unique record in the second half of the season as they did not have a draw in all 17 matches, which yielded 12 wins and five defeats.
All of their five defeats in the second half of the season came away from Baobab as they lost against Herentals (0-1), FC Platinum (0-1), Dynamos (1-2), Hwange (0-1) and Highlanders (0-1).
They won all the matches at Baobab, including a supposedly away match against Simba Bhora.
Ngezi Platinum scored the most goals in the second half of the season (24) followed by Yadah (23), Manica Diamonds (22), FC Platinum (21) and Herentals (20).
l BLACK RHINOS
Black Rhinos collected 26 points in the second half of the season and in the end they finished just two points away from safety.