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Lovemore Zigara in Gweru
THE make-or-break Zifa Central Soccer League (CSL) encounter between Blanket Mine and Nichrut ended prematurely after the referee awarded the hosts a penalty deep into stoppage time with the two sides deadlocked 1-1 in Gwanda.
Blanket Mine were awarded a penalty that Nichrut hotly disputed resulting in scuffles which forced the referee to abandon the match.
CSL chairman Stanley Chapeta confirmed the incident but said the league’s management was still waiting for the referee and match commissioner’s reports before any action can be taken.
“We heard that there were disturbances during the match involving Blanket Mine and Nichrut. However, we are still to get full details on what actually transpired and we will only know what course of action to take after we receive the referee as well as the match commissioner’s reports,” said Chapeta.
The abandonment saw Shabanie Mine opening a five-point lead at the top of the league table going into the last two rounds of matches after overcoming a hapless Gweru United 2-0 at Wilson Fields.
Shabanie Mine got its goals through chief striker Erea Phiri and their left-back to take their points tally to 63. Second-placed Ivan Hoe, who beat Vumbachikwe 2-0 in their own backyard, are on 58 points.
Shabanie Mine now need to beat Jessie Mine at Maglas Stadium this weekend to confirm their Premiership status and join Zifa Northern Division One champions Black Rhinos who sealed their promotional ticket at the weekend.
Shabanie Mine coach Tendai Chikuni said the race for promotion is theirs to lose and the onus was on the players to finish the job at hand at Maglas Stadium on Sunday.
Results: Whawha 0-0 Tongogara, Kwekwe Sables 2-0 ZRP Gwanda, Gweru United 0-2 Shabanie Mine, Jessie Mine 3-0 ZRP Beitbridge, Vumbachikwe 0-2 Ivan Hoe, Chrome Stars 0-1 MSU, FC Platinum 2-1 ZPC Munyati, Blanket Mine 1-1 Nichrut (match abandoned)
Table
P W D L F A GD Pts
Shabanie Mine 28 20 3 5 34 10 24 63
Ivan Hoe 28 17 7 4 44 23 21 58
Blanket Mine 27 17 5 5 39 18 21 56
Tongogara 28 14 9 5 36 22 4 47
Whawha 27 13 8 6 26 18 4 43
MSU 28 11 13 4 36 22 14 36
FC Platinum U 19 28 12 9 7 29 21 8 45
Nichrut 27 10 8 9 35 27 8 38
Jessie Mine 28 11 4 13 29 34 -5 37
Vumbachikwe 28 8 7 13 19 26 -7 31
ZRP Beitbridge 28 9 4 15 31 44 -13 31
ZRP Gwanda 28 9 2 17 27 35 -8 29
ZPC Munyati 28 5 12 11 33 40 -7 27
Chrome Stars 28 5 8 15 22 37 -15 23
Kwekwe Sables 27 5 6 16 22 44 -22 21
Gweru United 28 2 3 28 13 55 -42 9
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