Chapungu not throwing in the towel yet

CHAPUNGU coach, Tererai Zinyowera, insists his side is not giving up on their fight for a return to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) despite falling four points behind long leaders, Blanket Mine.

The Air Force of Zimbabwe side got a rude awakening this past weekend after they were thumped 3-0 by Blanket Mine at Sabiwa Stadium.

This was their heaviest defeat of the season and the first time they conceded more than one goal.

After the win, Blanket Mine opened a four-point lead at the top of the table and crucially positions them as favourites for promotion.

However, Zinyowera is not worried about the setback.

“This is the first match of the second round, ” he told the Zimpapers Sports Hub.

“It’s game on; there is no way we can give up at this stage of the season. We have 16 matches left; what we need to do is just dust ourselves up and get back fighting.

“Things will improve in the next matches. We could not use some of our new signings for different reasons, but we will be able to do so in our next matches.”

Blanket Mine coach, Luke Petros-Jukulile, is keeping his feet on the ground despite creating some breathing space at the top.“We thank God for this victory, but we don’t need to get too ahead of ourselves; all we need to do is maintain this good form,” he said.

Elsewhere, promotion hopefuls Kwekwe United made light work of MSU, winning 2-0 at the Campus grounds.

Kwekwe United moved into third place on 39 points, five adrift of the log leaders.

Gwanda Pirates made a bright start to the second half of the season with a narrow 1-0 win against FC Platinum U19.

Army side Tongogara suffered a huge shock after losing 2-0 to Vhembe Stars Academy in Beitbridge.

Results:

Blanket Mine 3-0 Chapungu, Vhembe Stars Academy 2-0 Tongogara, MSU 0-2 Kwekwe United, FC Platinum U19 0-1 Gwanda Pirates, Super Strikers 1-1 Shabanie Mine, Matobo 0-0 Good

Morning, Shurugwi 4-1 Dulibadzimu United

Full story on www. chronicle.co.zw

Team PWDLFAGDPts

1. Blanket Mine 18 13 5 0 27 5 22 44

2. Chapungu 18 12 4 2 31 7 24 40

3. Kwekwe Utd 18 12 3 3 30 7 23 39

4.WEST Nich. 17 12 23 24 12 12 38

5. Gwanda Pir 18 10 6 2 22 4 18 36

6. Grain Tigers 17 9 3 5 19 9 10 30

7. Tongogara 18 7 9 2 17 7 10 30

8. Super Strikers 18 6 7 5 16 15 1 25

9. Shabanie Mine 18 5 7 6 16 16 022