Midlands Correspondent
BEITBRIDGE outfit Border Strikers edged closer to sealing promotion into the Premier Soccer League after beating a determined Gweru United 2-1 in a Zifa Central Soccer League encounter at Ascot Stadium on Saturday. The result left Vavheneki needing just a point from their remaining four matches to clinch the title after their nearest rivals, ZPC Munyati faltered by falling 0-1 at home to Vumbachikwe and are now on third place.
Army side, Tongogara, moved into second position after they were awarded three points on a 3-0 walkover for the fixture against expelled Mvuma Stars. Border Strikers now have 57 points from 26 matches and a point will take their tally to an unassailable 58 points. Second and third placed Tongogara and ZPC Munyati are tied on 45 points and can only end the season on 57 points even if they win all their remaining four matches.
Border Strikers coach Never Malunga was certain they had bagged the championship, saying his charges would wrap up the title this weekend when they entertain Sable Chemicals at Dulibadzimu in Beitbridge.
“I think the writing is now on the wall for everyone to see and it is now only a matter of time for us to be crowned champions. If you look at the (Zifa) Northern Region and (Zifa) Southern Region, the champions there have already been confirmed and we also want to be confirmed this weekend after the match with Sable Chemicals at home,” said Malunga.
“However, we are under no illusion that the game will be a stroll in the park as all the teams always want to prove themselves when they play us.” Border Strikers will become the third side from the border town to play topflight football after Underhill and Tripple B in 2013. Both sides were relegated after only one season in the PSL and are now defunct.
Results: Silo United 0-0 ZRP Beitbridge, Sable Chemicals 1-0 Ivan Hoe, Mvuma Stars 0-3 Tongogara, Gweru United 1-2 Border Strikers, ZPC Munyati 0-1 ZPC Munyati, Shabanie Mine 0-0 Blanket Mine, MSU 1-1 FC Platinum Under 19, ZETDC Southern Region 5-2 Chrome Stars
Table
P W D L F A GD Pts
Border Strikers 26 17 6 3 37 11 26 57
Tongogara 26 12 9 5 28 12 16 45
ZPC Munyati 26 13 6 7 34 20 14 45
MSU 26 13 5 8 38 32 6 44
Sable Chem 26 13 5 8 30 27 3 44
Gweru Utd 26 12 7 7 38 24 14 43
Shabani Mine 26 12 7 7 33 20 13 43
FC Platinum 25 11 6 8 24 18 6 39
Blanket Mine 25 10 8 7 27 19 8 38
Ivan hoe 26 10 5 11 28 27 1 35
Chrome Stars 26 10 5 11 24 32 -8 35
ZETDC 26 8 9 9 27 30 -3 33
Vumbachikwe 26 7 8 11 27 32 -5 29
ZRP Beitbridge 26 7 4 15 28 38 -10 25
Silo United 26 3 2 21 14 45 -31 11
Mvuma Stars 26 2 2 22 7 57 -50 8