Mambas restore seven-point lead

Takudzwa Chitsiga-Sports Reporter

CHAMPIONSHIP chasing Black Mambas edged closer to Premiership promotion after a hard fought 1-0 win over Commando Bullets to restore a seven-point cushion at the top of the ZIFA Northern Region Division One Soccer League.

Mambas secured all three points through Bothwell Nzvori’s 67th minute strike to move away from second placed Chegutu Pirates with four matches before the end of the season.

That means Mambas need six more points to gain promotion.

Chegutu Pirates had done themselves a favour by defeating Harare City 3-0 last Thursday to temporarily reduce the gap at the top to four points.

Mambas coach, John “Toto” Ncube said he was happy with the result.

“I was very impressed by the result. The boys did very well and we are now looking forward to the next games. We had a very good first half were we dominated and we were unlucky not to score on several occasion. We were offensive throughout and we managed to get the points.

“The game was tough and we managed to get the desired results which is good for us.

“We are taking each game as it come at the moment and we are not looking much into what other teams are playing. Being on the apex of the log come with pressure but we are very confident that we will continue like this. There are some tough games coming but we are confident that we will continue to grind results.

“Winning such games gives us confidence and that shows we can compete at the highest level,” said Ncube.

Northern Region Results

Harare City 0, Chegutu Pirates 3, Ngezi Platinum Stars U-19 2, Trojan Stars 0; ZRP Harare 3, PAM 0;

Karoi United 2, Golden Eagles 0; Concession United 0, Chinhoyi Stars 3; Omnia 2, Herentals U-20 2, Shamva Mine 3, Banket United 1; Black Mambas 1, Commando Bullets 0.

Region Log

P W D L F A Pts

Black Mambas 30 19 9 2 33 7 67

Chegutu Pirates 30 16 11 3 29 8 59

Harare City 30 15 10 5 32 17 55

Herentals U-20 30 14 9 7 30 17 51

MWOS 29 12 13 4 39 17 49

Golden Eagles 30 13 10 7 36 23 49

Trojan Stars 30 13 9 8 34 21 48

N/Platinum U-19 30 11 7 12 25 21 40

Banket United 30 10 10 10 26 25 40

Karoi United 30 10 9 11 23 32 36

Come Again 30 9 10 11 25 27 35

Chinhoyi Stars 30 10 5 15 23 30 35

PAM FC 30 8 11 11 21 31 35

Omnia 30 8 9 13 29 39 33

Commando Bullets 30 7 11 12 20 25 32

Shamva Mine 30 7 11 14 31 29 32

ZRP Harare 30 3 13 14 22 34 22

Concession United 30 0 4 25 9 83 4

Eastern Region Results

Buffaloes 3, Masvingo United 1; Renco Mine 1, Grayham 2, Bikita Minerals 2, Mutare City Rovers 1; FC Wangu Mazodze 3, JM Busha 0; Chiredzi Stars 0, Rusitu Tigers 4; Surrey 0, Tenax 0; FC Hunters 2, Midway 2.

Eastern Region Log

P W D L F A Pts

FC Wangu Mazodze 25 16 7 2 38 9 55

Bikita Minerals 25 16 5 4 39 16 53

Risutu Tigers 26 15 6 5 42 21 51

Mutare City Rovers 26 12 8 6 36 13 44

Tenax 25 14 8 3 33 14 50

Buffaloes 25 13 6 6 29 14 45

FC Hunters 25 9 7 9 33 34 34

Grayham 25 10 3 12 29 39 33

Surrey 25 8 6 11 26 39 30

Masvingo United 25 7 7 11 27 31 28

Midway 25 8 4 13 29 39 28

Renco Mine 25 7 1 17 18 45 22

Manica Diamonds 25 5 6 14 21 38 21

JM Busha 26 6 3 17 21 47 21

Chiredzi Stars 25 1 7 17 15 39 10

Southern Region Results

Binga Pirates 1, ZPC Hwange 1; Bosso 90 v Casmny; Ratanang 3, Zim Saints 0; Mosi Rovers 2, CIWU 2; Indlovu Inyanyathela 0 Arenel Movers 2; Adachi 3, Makhandeni Pirates 0; Jordan Sinnott 0, Talen Vision 1; DRC United 1, Main Line 2; Mountain Climbers 0, Ajax Hotspurs 3.

Southern Region Log

P W D L F A Pts

Arenel Movers 29 25 4 0 67 3 79

ZPC Hwange 2 19 8 2 42 11 65

Talen Vision 29 19 7 34 9 14 64

Adachi 29 17 4 8 56 18 55

CIWU 29 16 5 8 43 32 53

Mainline 29 15 5 8 47 33 50

Casmny 28 12 8 8 34 19 44

Bosso 90 28 13 4 11 37 27 43

I/Iyanyathela 27 13 4 10 36 31 43

DRC 26 11 7 9 32 26 39