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Lovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
FORMER Premiership outfit Shabanie Mine kept their perfect home record intact by ending Border Strikers’ unbeaten run following a 2-0 win at Maglas Stadium in a Zifa Central Soccer League encounter.Backed by a sizeable crowd that some Premiership teams fail to command, Shabanie Mine attacked from the first whistle in their Sunday game but their strikers fluffed plenty of scoring opportunities.

The Chinda Boys finally drew first blood through a Zvenyika Makonese header in the 37th minute from a Clifford “Rambo” Nyoni cross.

Makonese, a well known former tough tackling defender, has now been converted to a central striker.

Nyoni provided another assist 12 minutes from full time when he whipped in a cross that Brighton Pamhirwa converted with a flashing header from close range.

The loss by Border Strikers saw their five-match unbeaten run come to an abrupt end and in the process relinquishing second position to MSU.

Border Strikers coach Never Malunga blamed the loss on his strikers’ failure to convert real chances.

“The difference between us and Shabanie Mine is that they converted their chances and we failed. That is football and at times you have to learn the hard way. However, we will pick up the pieces and hope for a positive result in our next game,” said Malunga.

His counterpart Arnold Jani expressed satisfaction with his charges’ performance saying it was just the beginning of better things to come.

“This is a good result for the team which shows that the team is gelling well. Our hope is that going forward we need to start picking points away from home,” said Jani.

 Results

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