Motor Action in Survivor Series

The Mighty Bulls could become the third team to be automatically demoted if they fail to win at home and the results from the other matches on Survival Sunday do not go their way.

Motor Action, a colourful outfit that Harare businessman Eric Rosen built from the ashes of Blackpool in 2000, have found themselves firmly entangled in the relegation puzzle after an indifferent season in which they have won just six matches and drawn an incredible 16 games to garner 34 points.

Although the Mighty Bulls are in 12th place, they are still very much in danger as they are just a point above 14th-placed Njube Sundowns and 13th-placed Highway.

Sundowns host newboys Eagles at Pelandaba in Gwanda and Highway travel to Barbourfields to face Bantu Rovers in the other crunch Survival Sunday battles.

Eighth-placed Eagles are already safe having accumulated 38 points but the debutants have made no secret of their ambition to seal a top-eight finish and compete in the BancABC Sup8r tournament.

Eagles, who have done very well on the road in their maiden dance with the Premiership, know that only a victory in Gwanda will guarantee them that top-eight finish.

Defeat for Sundowns will send the Bulawayo side reeling out of the top-flight.

Highway's dance with the top-flight could just last a season should the Mutare outfit lose to Bantu Rovers and Sundowns beat Eagles.

Methembe Ndlovu's Bantu Rovers with 35 points also know they will need a win against Highway to be safe from a play-off place.

Although focus in the last month has been on the two-horse championship race involving Gunners and Dynamos which was decided at Rufaro last Sunday, a complex battle for survival has been heating up at the lower end of the table.

With Underhill and Black Rhinos already condemned to Division One football next season, the team that will join them in relegation and the side that will leave to fight another day through the play-offs will be decided on Survival Sunday.

For the Mighty Bulls, only a victory can guarantee that survival as a draw could still leave them needing to compete in the play-offs.

Their coach Joey Antipas, who was recalled to save the Mighty Bulls, admitted yesterday that Motor Action face a tough assignment in their bid to remain in the top-flight.

The Mighty Bulls have also roped in the experienced hand of former Dynamos assistant coach David George to help Antipas in plotting their team's survival.

But what has even made Motor Action's battle tougher is that third-placed CAPS United are fancying their chances of squeezing into second position ahead of bitter rivals Dynamos and claim the second Champions League slot.

Antipas, in rallying his troops for their big battle, yesterday said Motor Action needed to arrive at the match venue in the right frame of mind and ready for total war.

"It is a massive game for us. It is the last game of the season and for us to survive we just have to win it.

"It will be a difficult one because CAPS United are also chasing a Champions League slot and badly need a win," Antipas said.

The Warriors assistant coach is, however, hopeful that his charges who appear to have found their rhythm again will turn on the magic against CAPS United.

"The boys have been playing well in the last three games and we have to continue with this momentum... We have to fight like we have never done before."

Antipas saw his charges squander a chance to seal their safety last Saturday when they allowed Monoz to grab a late equaliser and force a 1-1 draw at Rufaro.

The Mighty Bulls had in their previous game thumped Highway 4-0 at Motor Action Sports Club.

"It was a bit unfortunate that we conceded a goal from a set-piece through a deflection from one of our players but we should have won the game against Monomotapa.

"We believe if we can play with the same conviction and better concentration then we should come right."

Motor Action have also got some history in their favour as they have traditionally done well against CAPS United since 2000.

"The last game we played against them finished 0-0. The guys always rise up against CAPS and I hope it will be the same story this time," Antipas said. The Mighty Bulls are, however, fretting over the injury to rangy midfielder Bhekimpilo Ncube who has been one of their better players this season and struck a chord with his former Zimbabwe Saints teammate Enasio Perezu and fellow midfielder Charles Sibanda.

"We are still waiting on Bheki, he picked up a toe injury against Monomotapa and has been doing some light training. We certainly need him, he has been doing well," Antipas said.

CAPS United will go into battle against the Mighty Bulls hoping not just for a win for themselves but also a defeat for Dynamos in DeMbare's clash against Shooting Stars across town at Rufaro if Lloyd Chitembwe's men are to be absolute about a second-place finish.

Makepekepe team manager Wilson Mutekede yesterday acknowledged the tough encounter that awaits them at the Mighty Bulls home but insisted that they would not exert themselves under "unnecessary pressure because the initiative for second place is really with Dynamos".

"Motor Action have been our bogey side for a long time. Over and above that they are fighting for survival but we are looking to finish the season on a good note," Mutekede said.

The CAPS United team manager said although a chance for a Champions League slot would motivate his players against Motor Action, the Makepekepe family was still satisfied with their overall performance this season.

"The desire to secure a Champions League slot is just but one of the motivating factors for us but we are not going to put ourselves under pressure because that slot largely depends on how Dynamos will do against Shooting Stars.

"The destiny of that slot is not in our hands because all that Dynamos need is a draw.

"But we are happy that we are already in Africa. For a team that had been fighting relegation in the last few seasons, we are satisfied with what we have done and that we will at least finish third.

"We are happy that we have three players on the Soccer Stars calendar, that we could provide the Golden Boot winner this year and that we were able to provide six players to the national team. That is a sign of the improvement that we have shown as a team this season," Mutekede said.

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