Tongogara climb to lead pack

September 19, 2017

Tongogara climb to lead pack

Lovemore Zigara in Gweru
TONGOGARA took top spot in the Zifa Central Soccer League after beating FC Platinum Under-19 2–0 as the battle for promotion intensifies.

Six teams have occupied pole position since the beginning of the season, making the campaign arguably the most competitive CSL ever.

Besides Tongogara, other teams that have at one time topped the league table include Whawha, Nichrut, ZPC Munyati, Ivan Hoe and MSU.

The army side took advantage of the abandoned match between Makusha and Whawha in Shurugwi.

The match was abandoned in the 88th minute soon after the hosts had taken a 1–0 lead following crowd trouble.

Tongogara are now on 52 points, a point clear of Whawha, whose game has now been referred to the disciplinary committee.

“We await reports from match officials as well as the police then the disciplinary committee will sit. At the moment I cannot comment further, but can confirm that the match (between Makusha and Whawha) was abandoned,” said CSL chairman Stanley Chapeta.

Elsewhere, Nichrut maintained the heat on the top teams without taking to the field after being awarded the game on a 3-0 score line following Kwekwe Stars’ no show.

The development sealed Kwekwe Stars’ fate in the CSL as they have been expelled from the league for failing to fulfil three consecutive fixtures, according to the league’s rules and regulations.

In what was the game of the week, ZPC Munyati got their revenge against Ivan Hoe by beating the Kwekwe-based outfit 1–0 in Munyati.

Alpha Shirichena’s 88th minute strike earned the power generators maximum points.

ZPC Munyati coach Isaac Nyabvure believes the win will rekindle his side’s challenge for the championship.

The power generators are eight points behind log leaders Tongogara.

Results
Telone 0–0 MSU, ZPC Munyati 1–0 Ivan Hoe, Black Eagle 1–2 Vumbachikwe, Tongogara 2–0 FC Platinum U19, Nichrut 3–0 Kwekwe Stars, Gwanda United 0–3 Chrome Stars, Blanket Mine 1–0 ZRP Gwanda, Border Strikers 0–3 Silo United, Makusha 1–0 Whawha (match abandoned after 88 minutes)

P   W   D   L   F   A   GD   Pts
TONGOGARA    24   15   7   2   35   14   21   52
WHAWHA    23   15   6   2   35   9   26   51
NICHRUT    24   14   6   4   37   12   25   48
IVAN HOE MINE    24   13   5   6   31   15   16   44
ZPC MUNYATI   24   12   8   4   27   15   12   44
CHROME STARS    24   10   8   6   25   17   8   38
BLANKET MINE   24   8   10   6   17   15   2   34
VUMBACHIKWE    24   8   9   7   25   27   -2   33
FC PLATINUM U19   24   8   7   9   25   23   2   31
MSU    24   7   9   8   23   19   4   30
TELONE    24   7   9   8   20   22   -2   30
MAKUSHA    23   7   7   9   29   31   -2   28
BLACK EAGLES   24   6   9   9   18   22   -4   27
BORDER STRIKERS   24   8   5   11   15   27   -12   25
ZRP GWANDA    24   6   6   12   27   33   -6   24
SILO UNITED    24   3   9   12   18   34   -16   18
KWEKWE STARS    24   3   6   15   23   49   -26   11
GWANDA UNITED   24   0   4   20   4   50   -46   4