After the international break, the Weekend Guide is back on track. This week we’ll watch two of Japan’s best teams, Zimbabwe’s underdog champions, and a race for the title in Barbados.
(All the hours are in CET)
Amateur (Like these scenes)
What? Kawasaki Frontale – Kashima Antlers (Japanese J.1 League)
When? Saturday, 08:00
Where? Todoroki Athletics Stadium, Kawasaki
Why? The double-stage system of the Japanese league results in each team dreaming about a title. After four games, Kawasaki Frontale leads with 10 points and Kashima Antlers are in the 3rd place with 9 points.
Key Players: Kawasaki’s leading player is Kengo Nakamura, the veteran captain that plays for the team since 2003 and made 392 league appearances for the club. In Kashima Antlers you should look for Mu Kanazaki, who already scored three goals since the beginning of the season.
Race for the Record: Hiroshima Sanfrecce's Hisato Sato and Kawasaki Frontale's Yoshito Okubo are both trying to be the all-time league top scorers. Both scored 158 so far.
Professional (like this goal)
What? Chicken Inn FC – Dynamos (Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League)
When? Saturday, 14:00
Where? Luveve Stadium, Bulawayo
Why? The new season in Zimbabwe is here and the champions Chicken Inn wants to defend their title. Last season they won their first ever title, after finished 4 points above Dynamos, the 22-times Zimbabwean champions and their opponents for Saturday’s match.
Key Players: One of Chicken Inn leaders is Edmore Chirambadare, who scored 11 goals last season. Dynamo’s main player is Rodreck Mutuma that rejoins his youth team after a short period in South Africa.
No World Cup for You: Zimbabwe was the only team that was expelled from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. It was due to their failure to pay to their former coach, José Claudinei.
World Class (like this shot)
What? BDF – UWI Blackbirds (Barbados Premier League)
When? Sunday, 22:00
Where? Wildey Astro Turf, Bridgetown
Why? The race to the title in Barbados is getting closer to its end. BDF and UWI Blackbirds, alongside with Paradise FC, are in a three-way race and only one will win it. BDF are the league leaders and UWI Blackbirds are only 2 points behind.
Key Players: BDF have the league’s top scorer, Shaquille Stewart, who scored 11 goals this season and he is one of the leading players in Barbados. Keep your eyes also on Ramon Manning, the only representative of UWI in the current national team squad.
Make It Shorter: What do team acronyms stand for? BDF are Barbados Defence Forces, and UWI are University of West Indies. So the question is who will be the champions – the soldiers or the students?