IT has been exciting season, a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League race that now enters the home stretch with FC Platinum attempting to make history and CAPS United hoping to return to the championship podium after 11 years in the doldrums.

With the demise of ailing giants Dynamos and the inconsistencies of Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa’s ZPC Kariba, the 2016 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League race has now been reduced to a three-horse race.

The battle lines have been drawn and it’s FC Platinum, CAPS United and Highlanders tussling for the Premiership knighthood.

Bosso have picked up form at the right time.

Can the Bulawayo giants stage a late Houdini Act and snatch the title from right under the noses of Pure Platinum Play and Makepekepe?

The last time Bosso won the league title was way back in 2006, they did a league double on old nemesis Dynamos a feat they repeated this term under the guidance of Dutch expatriate coach Erol Akbay.

Expectations are high in the City of Kings and Queens.

It has been a forgettable season for fallen giants Dynamos who can now only finish at best in the top four.

An experiment with controversial Portuguese gaffer Paolo Jorge Silva backfired as DeMbare stuttered in the early stages of the campaign.

Silva was fired and his assistant Lloyd Mutasa took over.

The former Dynamos silky linkman steadied the ship but a number of hot and cold performances saw DeMbare slip away from the title chase.

They are also out of the league’s premium knockout tournament, the Chibuku Super Cup.

The 2016 campaign had four debutants Border Strikers, Bulawayo City, Mutare City Rovers and Ngezi Platinum Stars – what a mixture of fortunes the quartet has had.

It looks all done and dusted for Border Strikers who anchor the 16-team log standings going into the last five rounds while Mutare City Rovers are still battling against the chop.

Two teams will be relegated at the end of the season and it is almost certain Bulawayo City and Ngezi Platinum Stars will be part of the 2017 itinerary.

It was a season How Mine staged a major coup, bringing back revered coach Kelvin “KK” Kaindu to Bulawayo but what an indifferent spell the Zambian has had.

Chikurupati have hovered at best near mid table and at worst towards the red zone.

The 2016 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League will go down as one that uncovered hidden talent; it was a season for the unheralded.

Hwange’s Gift Mbweti, Highlanders’ teenage striker Prince Dube and Mutare City’s Kuda Gurure are the major highlights.

James Nguluve from Ngezi Platinum Stars has also been writing his own fairytale at the Baobab in Mhondoro Ngezi.

Veterans refused to be outshone as Leonard Tsipa led from the front at CAPS United, Ralph Matema came up with crucial goals for Bosso while Clement Matawu proved he has not lost his classy touch at Chicken Inn.

FC Platinum goalie Petros Mhari, Peter Muduhwa of Highlanders and Godknows Murwira are some of the players put in a decent shift.

SportsZone invites our valued readers and followers to predict the 11 Soccer Stars of the Year and stand a chance to win a PSL club replica jersey.