Online Reporter
Onward Gangata [email protected]
FORMER Warriors striker, Luke Petros Jukulile, reaffirmed his status as one of the best coaches in the Central Region Soccer League after his Blanket Mine side shot to the top of the table following a gritty 1-0 win over Kwekwe United in a tightly contested match on Sunday.
Matthew Hlabati’s 19th-minute strike was the difference as the miners managed to hold on.
The Gwanda side now lead the race for promotion with 38 points, one more than second-placed Chapungu.
Chapungu ceded pole position after dropping points in a goalless draw away to army side Tongogara on Saturday.
That draw enabled Blanket Mine to climb up the table and take charge of the race with just one match before the halfway mark.
Blanket Mine coach Petros Jukulile has previously won the Central Region Soccer League title, guiding Whawha to the Premiership twice in 2014 and 2019.
He is on course to repeat the same feat, this time with a different team.
However, Jukulile is keeping his feet on the ground and knows it is too early to pop the champagne bottle.
“It is a sign of our hard work,” he told the Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“As you can see, the first part was about running away from relegation, but now, where we are, we have set the pace.
“There are still a lot of games to play; we are not there yet, we can’t talk about winning the league.”
Elsewhere, Johannes Ngodzo’s Gwanda Pirates’ disappointing season took another turn after a goalless draw against Grain Tigers at Mbizo Stadium.
Ezimnyama Ngenkani are in fifth place, eight points behind the leaders.
In contrast, fellow Gwanda outfit, West Nicholson kept up with their fairytale season, edging basement side Matobo 1-0 to move into third place with 35 points.
The leading teams in the Central Region will take a break from the title race as focus shifts to the Munhumutapa
Challenge Cup.
Chapungu, Kwekwe United, Gwanda Pirates and Blanket Mine are still in the country’s premier knockout competition.
Results:
Tongogara 0-0 Chapungu, Matobo 0-1 West Nicholson, Sabi Gold Mine 2-0 MSU, Grain Tigers 0-0 Gwanda Pirates,
Vhembe Stars Academy 1-1 Shabanie, FC Platinum U19 2-1 Good Morning, ZRP Gwanda 2-0 Dulibadzimu, Shurugwi
FC 0-1 Super Strikers, Blanket Mine 1-0 Kwekwe United
Zifa Central Region Soccer League Log Standings: Week 16
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi