adminMidlands Sports Correspondent
CHAPUNGU took advantage of a slip up by closest rivals Chrome Stars to gain ground in the Zifa Central Soccer League race after routing visiting Gaths Mine 5-1 at Ascot Stadium at the weekend. In Beitbridge, Town United’s resurgence under John Phiri continued as they handed visiting Chrome Stars their worst defeat of the season in a 4-0 massacre.
The result saw the chrome miners losing grip on runaway leaders Chapungu who now have an eight-point advantage at the top of the log standings with 36 points.
The win by Maninja as Town United are affectionately known brought them back into the reckoning as they are now third, a point behind their adversaries over the weekend who remained static on 28 points.
However, it is Chapungu who should fancy their chances of gaining promotion to the topflight league if the history of the league is anything to go by.
Since the inauguration of the region three seasons ago when Mimosa (now FC Platinum) became the first side to be promoted, it has been teams leading at halfway stage that finally gained promotion to the Castle Lager Premiership.
Hardbody did the same during the 2011 season and so did Tripple B last season.
Should Chapungu lose their last match of the first half season against Hwahwa, they are assured that they would go to the mid season break at the top of the standings.
Despite these statistics, Chapungu gaffer, John Nyikadzino speaking after his side’s win was cautious ahead of the gruelling second half of the season.
“Hopefully, history will repeat itself but we cannot rely entirely on it so we still have to take each game as it comes and respect our opponents even the weakest of the teams in the league because there is still a long way to go,” he said.
Results
Vumbachikwe 0, Hwahwa 0; Chapungu 5, Gaths Mine 1; Town United 4, Chrome Stars 0; FC Platinum Under-19s 1, Silo United 2; NM Academy 3, Jessie Mine 0; Tongogara 2, MSU 0; Kwekwe Pirates 3, Hardbody 0
Log
P W D L F A Pts
Chapungu FC 14 11 3 0 43 8 36
Chrome Stars FC 14 8 4 2 16 10 28
Town United FC 14 7 5 2 27 11 26
MSU FC 14 6 6 2 23 10 24
Silo United FC 14 7 3 4 16 19 24
Hwahwa FC 14 7 2 5 17 14 23
Gaths Mine FC 14 6 4 4 18 20 22
Tongogara FC 14 5 4 5 12 15 19
Vumbachikwe FC 14 6 3 5 17 15 18
FC Platinum u/19 14 3 5 6 17 19 14
Gwanda Ramblers 14 3 4 5 12 20 13
NM Academy FC 14 3 4 7 17 26 13
Jessie Mine FC 14 3 2 8 7 21 11
Triple B Academy 14 2 4 6 11 17 10
Hardbody FC 14 1 5 8 11 22 8
Kwekwe Pirates FC 14 1 2 10 5 22 5
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