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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
THE return of Premiership football is beckoning for Beitbridge with Border Strikers FC just seven points shy of making their maiden topflight appearance. Vavheneki or Faka Jeki as Border Strikers are affectionately known, are on the brink of becoming the third club from the busy border town to play in the PSL after the now defunct Underhill and Tripple B.

Underhill made history by becoming the first team from Beitbridge to gain promotion into the PSL in 2009, but spent just a season in the elite league before being relegated.

Just like Underhill, Tripple B also played for a season in the PSL in 2013 and folded after being relegated.

Border Strikers, who top the Central Soccer League with 54 points, need just seven points to reach an unassailable 61 points from five games.

They sit nine points ahead of ZPC Munyati.

On Saturday, the Never Malunga-coached Border Strikers picked up a vital point at home in a goalless draw against former PSL side Shabanie Mine.

ZPC Munyati, who showed lots of promise at the beginning of the season alongside their Southern Region Soccer League compatriots ZPC Hwange, can end their season on 60 points should they win their remaining games.

ZPC Munyati held army side Tongogara to a 0-0 draw.

In the Southern Region, Bulawayo Chiefs delayed Bulawayo City’s championship celebrations after beating Indlovu Iyanyathela 2-0, forcing the municipal side, which needs three points to claim a PSL spot, to wait for another week before being crowned champions, should they win their next game.

City striker Qinani Sibanda continued with his fine form by scoring one of the goals in their 2-1 dismissal of ZPC Hwange at Barbourfields Stadium on Saturday.

Former Quelaton and How Mine attacking midfielder Eddie Nkulungo scored the other goal for City, while Nomore Chinyerere scored ZPC Hwange’s consolation.

City’s next game will be away to Trumus in Victoria Falls. Trumus were awarded three free points as a walk-over against Ntabazinduna following referees’ decision to boycott Ntabazinduna games until they are paid their outstanding dues.

Ntabazinduna, who are bankrolled by the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services, owe referees $1,300 and they are a game away from being expelled by the league if they don’t pay up.

Meanwhile, the Zifa Southern Region board meets today to determine what action to take against army side Indlovu Iyanyathela, whose members invaded the pitch against Chiefs at Fairbridge, threatening to beat up the referee for allowing a Chiefs’ goal to stand.

According to Zifa Southern Region board member Jabulani Chinyangarara, the match commissioner’s report indicated that Indlovu Iyanyathela’s coach Bekithemba “Super” Ndlovu kicked a ball into the playing field as Chiefs were attacking and after the home side scored, army supporters went berserk protesting the goal. “The match commissioner and referee have submitted their reports and we will determine what action to take during the board meeting tomorrow,” said Chinyangarara.

Southern Region results

Saturday: Ntabazinduna 0-3 Trumus, Mpumalanga 0-1 Nust, Bulawayo Chiefs 2-0 Indlovu Iyanyathela, Bulawayo City 2-1 ZPC Hwange, Technosphere 1-0 Black Boots, Amagagasi 1-1 Casmyn, Bantu Rovers 2-1 Hwange Juniors, Old Mine 0-3 Makomo

P W D L F A GD Pts

Byo City 27 19 5 3 37 7 30 62

Byo Chiefs 27 16 7 4 42 11 31 55

ZPC Hwange 27 13 10 4 31 12 19 49

Technosphere 27 14 7 6 31 15 16 49

Makomo 27 13 6 8 27 21 6 45

Bantu Rovers** 27 13 5 9 30 17 13 44

Casmyn 27 12 7 8 28 23 5 43

Indlovu Iyanyathela 27 11 6 10 19 20 -1 40

Black Boots 27 7 14 6 25 20 5 35

Amagagasi 27 8 11 8 20 21 -1 35

Ntabazinduna 27 7 8 12 21 29 -8 29

Trumus Warriors 27 6 10 11 18 21 -3 28

Nust 27 5 12 10 17 25 -8 24

Hwange Juniors 27 4 8 15 15 34 -19 20

Mpumalanga 27 3 3 21 11 46 -35 12

Old Nic Mine 27 1 6 20 7 58 -51 9

**Points deducted for using a suspended player

Central Region results

Saturday: ZRP Beitbridge 3-0 Sable Chemicals, Silo United 3-0 Mvuma Stars, Ivan Hoe 1-1 Gweru United, Tongogara 0-0 ZPC Munyati, Border Strikers 0-0 Shabanie Mine, Vumbachikwe 2-3 MSU, FC Platinum Under-19 3-0 Chrome Stars, Blanket Mine 0-2 ZETDC

P W D L F A GD Pts

B/ Strikers 25 16 6 3 35 10 25 54

ZPC Munyati 25 13 6 6 34 19 15 45

Gweru United 25 12 7 6 37 22 15 43

MSU 25 13 4 8 37 31 6 43

Shabanie 25 12 6 7 33 20 13 42

Tongogara 25 11 9 5 25 12 13 42

Sable 25 12 5 8 29 27 2 41

Platinum U/19 24 11 5 8 23 17 6 38

Blanket Mine 24 10 7 7 27 19 8 37

Ivan Hoe 25 10 5 10 28 26 2 35

Chrome Stars 25 10 5 10 22 27 -5 35

ZETDC 25 7 9 9 22 28 -6 30

Vumbachikwe 25 6 8 11 26 32 -6 26

ZRP Beitbridge 25 7 3 15 28 38 -10 24

Silo United 25 3 1 21 14 45 -31 10

Mvuma Stars 25 2 2 21 7 54 -47 8