By McGeorge Mbare
THE Central Region Soccer League heads into Matchday 33 this weekend, with the relegation battle reaching boiling point and the race for promotion taking centre stage.
All eyes will be on league leaders Blanket Mine and second-placed Kwekwe United as the two sides battle for the championship.
Blanket Mine will be hoping to seal promotion and bring Premier Soccer League football to Matabeleland South, while Kwekwe United will be looking to cause an upset and secure a return to the top flight.
Blanket Mine lead the standings with 78 points, five ahead of Kwekwe United, who have secured 73 points.
With only two matches remaining, a draw would be enough for Blanket Mine to clinch the title.
However, a victory for Kwekwe United would leave the championship race open, with the final-day fixtures between Blanket Mine and Vhembe Stars Academy and Good Morning FC and Kwekwe United, potentially deciding the destination of the title.
At the other end of the table, three teams are fighting desperately to preserve their places in the Central Region Soccer League and avoid joining Shurugwi and Matobo, who have already been relegated.
Vhembe Stars Academy, Superstrikers and MSU are battling to escape the relegation zone, with the teams finishing 16th, 17th and 18th set to be automatically relegated at the end of the season
Sixteenth-placed Vhembe Stars Academy are in serious danger of relegation as they prepare to face 10th-placed Shabanie Mine at Maglas Stadium on Sunday.
Vhembe Stars Academy could face relegation if they fail to collect maximum points from their remaining two matches against Shabanie Mine and title contenders Kwekwe United.
However, the team remains determined to fight until the end of the campaign.
Vhembe Stars Academy Secretary-General Foster Abeki said his team was targeting nothing less than victory against Shabanie Mine.
“We are definitely going there to finish the business and we will fight for three points on Sunday. We are not going anywhere without a fight,” Abeki said.
Fifteenth-placed MSU will take on Sabi Gold Mine in their Matchday 33 encounter as they seek to strengthen their chances of survival.
MSU face the prospect of relegation if they lose both of their remaining matches, while Sabi Gold Mine need just two points from their final two games to secure their safety.
The Students, however, can boost their survival hopes by beating Sabi Gold Mine at MSU Grounds on Sunday.
A victory would give MSU a crucial lifeline heading into the final round of fixtures, although their fate will also depend on results elsewhere.
Superstrikers will face Shurugwi FC at Sabiwa Stadium on Matchday 33 in a must-win encounter as they seek to keep their survival hopes alive.
Superstrikers can improve their chances of avoiding relegation by beating Shurugwi FC, but they will also be hoping that Vhembe Stars Academy and MSU drop points in their remaining fixtures.
With just two matches left in the season, every point will be crucial as the three teams battle to retain their places in the Central Region Soccer League.