Border Strikers on course to win league

Midlands Correspondent
BEITBRIDGE outfit Border Strikers are on course for a maiden appearance in the topflight league next season after stretching their lead at the top of the Central Soccer League to 12 points following a 4-0 demolition of FC Platinum Under-19.

Strikers have now amassed 53 points from 23 games, while ZPC Munyati, army side Tongogara and Sable Chemicals are tied on 41 points.

Sable Chemicals went into the weekend fixtures in second place, but dropped to fourth after going down 1-2 to Shabanie Mine while Tongogara were held to a goalless draw by Chrome Stars.

ZPC Munyati moved into second place courtesy of a better goal difference after being awarded three points on a 3-0 score line for their fixture against expelled Mvuma Stars.

Border Strikers got their goals through Mike Variso, Fortune Ncube, Presley Ncube and William Nyoni and now need 10 points from their remaining seven games to be confirmed champions.

The border town outfit coach Never Malunga said despite the side’s seemingly run-away lead, they continue to take their remaining games seriously.

“I’ve always warned the boys to guard against complacency, especially at this critical stage of the race. We want to maintain the same mentality that we’ve applied in the last 10 games. We want maximum points in every game, with the worst result being a draw,” said Malunga.

In other matches, Ivan Hoe edged ZETDC Southern Region 1-0 condemning the power utility side to the relegation zone. Midlands State University’s resurgence continued with a 3–1 thrashing of Silo United.

Results

Tongogara 0–0 Chrome Stars, Ivan Hoe 1–0 ZETDC Southern Region, ZRP Beitbridge 0–2 Gweru United, Blanket Mine 0–0 Vumbachikwe, Border Strikers 4–0 FC Platinum U19, Silo United 1–3 MSU, Sable Chemicals 1–2 Shabanie Mine, Mvuma Stars 0–3 ZPC Munyati

P W D L F A GD Pts

Border Strikers 23 16 5 2 35 8 27 53

ZPC Munyati 23 12 5 6 32 18 14 41

Tongogara 23 11 8 4 25 11 14 41

Sable Chemicals 23 12 5 6 29 21 8 41

Gweru United 23 11 6 6 33 21 12 39

Shabani Mine 23 11 5 7 31 20 11 38

Blanket Mine 23 10 7 6 27 17 10 37

MSU 23 11 4 8 33 29 4 37

FCPlatinum U19 23 10 5 8 20 17 3 35

Ivan Hoe 23 10 4 9 27 23 4 34

Chrome Stars 23 9 5 9 20 23 -3 32