THREE Premiership teams were better than the current log leaders at this stage last year, making the 2017 season more unpredictable if statistics are anything to go by.

Log leaders Ngezi Platinum have only collected 28 points after 15 games.

After the same number of games last season, FC Platinum were top of the log with 33 points, Highlanders were second with 31 points and eventual champions CAPS United were third with 29 points.

Chicken Inn, who are also on 28 points with a game in hand, could however equal Highlanders’ record at the same stage last season if they win their next game.

Black Rhinos, who are on 27 points after 14 games, could win their next game but will still not be able to surpass the record set by Highlanders and FC Platinum over the same period last year.

While the season has been less predictable so far, there are other teams happy with their performance.

Log leaders Ngezi Platinum find themselves seven points better than last year after the same number of games. By last year they had only collected 21 points and coach Tonderai Ndiraya had been in charge for five games trying to save the club from relegation.

“It means the team has improved greatly. With some good results in the past four games it could have been better for us,” said Ndiraya.

FC Platinum, who were leading with 33 points last season after 15 games, are on 26 points after 14 games. Now a win in their next match will only help them equal the record set by eventual champions CAPS United after 15 games last year.

Chicken Inn, who are on 28 points, are already nine points better than last year at the same stage despite having played a game less so far.

A repeat of their run after game 15 last year could actually see Rahman Gumbo’s charges lifting the 2017 title.

That the teams were increased from 16 to 18 at the beginning of the season however means there is still a long way to go and a lot will happen in the 19 and 20 games remaining for most of the teams.

CAPS United, who were in action yesterday against Yadah, will need to win all their games in hand if they are to be around the same record they set after 15 games last year.

Coach Lloyd Chitembwe told H-Metro this week that that his boys will rise to the occasion despite admitting that the congested fixture will give them a lot of challenges.

“We knew we were going to have this tight fixture and we have to try and see how we can manage it,” he said.

The unpredictable nature of the league so far seem to have benefitted Dynamos much. After the former champions experienced a slow start to the season, at 26 points they are suddenly only two points within reach of the log leaders.

In reality, Lloyd Mutasa’s charges who have only played 13 games so far are one point better than they were last year after 15 games.

Their points however could improve if they get the ruling for the abandoned game against Chapungu their way and then try to beat CAPS United in the Harare derby.

DeMbare assistant coach Biggie Zuze said they believe things can always change and that is what kept them going in their darkest hour.

“In football anything can happen. The results were not really coming. Where we are, people never thought we would be one day and I think we deserve to be on top now. Every game which we are going to play is going to be cup final,” said Zuze.

Giants Highlanders are six pints poorer than last season but their coach Erol Akbay said this week the records will not matter as the season was complex.

“I’m not very worried about our position. If you look at it, the teams at the top including us are separated by a few points.

After another round of matches, everything changes so it is important for us to just try and win every game,” he said.