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Midlands Correspondent
THE Zifa Central Soccer League championship race is slowly taking shape with contenders coming to the party. Shabanie Mine maintained their three-point lead at the top of the log standings after dispatching struggling Kwekwe Sables 2-0 at Maglas Stadium in Zvishavane at the weekend. Goals by skipper Nyasha Mpofu and a second half penalty converted by Erea Phiri gave the former premiership campaigners maximum points at the expense of the visitors.

The win took the asbestos miners’ points tally to 18 off seven games. Shabanie Mine only dropped points in Week 3 when they lost 0-1 to FC Platinum Under-19 in a Zvishavane derby.

Army side Tongogara, who had a sluggish start to the season, have also put their campaign back on track after thumping Jessie Mine 3-0 to maintain the three-point gap between them and leaders Shabanie Mine.

ZPC Munyati, who flattered only to deceive in the first round of nine matches last year, only recorded their first win of the season at the weekend by hammering Vumbachikwe 3-0.

That victory was a relief for the Brian Samushonga led executive committee, whose target for the season is to claim the championship.

Samushonga said they hope to build on the win to mount a serious championship onslaught.

“It’s a relief that we have finally managed to get maximum points.

“If you have been following our matches, we have been playing well, but we have been unlucky not to win.

“We want to build on this win and if we can beat teams in the top six as we head towards midseason, I’ve no doubt we can be contenders to bring topflight football to Kwekwe,” said Samushonga.

Munyati are now 13th with seven points from their six games.

Weekend results

ZPC Munyati 3-0 Vumbachikwe

FC Platinum U19 0-0 Whawha

Nichrut 3-0 Chrome Stars

Shabanie Mine 2-0 Kwekwe Sables,

Tongogara 3-0 Jessie Mine

Ivan Hoe 2-2 MSU

ZRP Beitbridge 1-1 Blanket Mine

ZRP Gwanda 2-0 Gweru United