THE Northern Region Soccer League takes a breather for the mid-season but with one team, Herentals, the happiest of the lot in as far as the championship race is concerned.

As it stands, it looks like the NRSL championship is for Herentals (40 points) to lose having set a stable and comfortable platform to get it on for the remainder of the championship marathon where they sit on a fluffy 13-point cushion.

“It’s quite a remarkable performance,” Herentals head coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva told Sportszone.

“A very good first half (of the season) for the boys. It’s a very good performance considering that they lost just a single match that’s away to Banket and then that was that.”

Statistics reveal that Herentals have done all the hard work to earn the 40 points, piled the much needed goals -29 for now- and have also been solid at the back conceding eight goals. 

“They have been very strong in terms of their character, solid in performance and all the departments have been working very hard looking at the defense line, midfield line and also the attacking line.

“They have been so fantastic. I am quite happy with the way they have expressed themselves during the first half of the season.”

It’s now 17 games down and 17 more to go before the season ends. Although Herentals are in the lead, Mutiwekuziva knows the battle is not yet won as the second round has also been the toughest period in a season.

“First half with such a lead its good but I believe there is more work to be done in the second half. More teams are going to beef up their squads and a lot of teams they want beat us.

“The way teams are playing they want to beat us they are trying by any means necessary so that they can stop us.

“But with the way the boys are showing, the character of the boys, how they behaving inside the pitch and also during our session we are most likely to go all the way and win the championship,” he said.

A glance at the previous mid-season tables since 2013 shows that the team that goes to the mid-season break on pole position has gone on to win the league.

In spite of changing times, Herentals seem to be far better, statistically, to complete their mission hence it depends to how they will go on with their business in these last 17 games.

However, the championship is also still open for any team of talent to put up a challenge and derail Herentals’ dreams.

Mid-season log standings comparisons

2013 season

PWDLFAPts

Flame Lily17105223835

*ZPC Kariba1695225932

Mushowani Stars15843221328

DStv Rangers17683171126

Twalumba17854191126

*league winner

2014 season

PWDLFAPts

Gunners17124125740

*Flame Lily17114216437

Bindura United171133171036

Mushowani Stars171124241035

Ngezi Platinum17926211129

*league winner

2015 season

PWDLFAPts

*Ngezi Platinum17116033739

ZRP FC1788116932

Black Rhinos17773141128

DStv Rangers17755252026

Gunners16673131125

*league winner

2016 season

PWDLFAPts

*Black Rhinos17132226541

Herentals17872251131

Gunners17944251531

Karoi United17854201429

Golden Valley17773191528

*league winner

NORTHERN REGION SOCCER LEAGUE

Week 17 results

Karoi United0-1ZRP Morris

Darwin United0-1Shamva

Mushowani Stars0-0Blue Swallows

ZRP FC0-0Cranborne Bullets

Banket United0-1Chitungwiza Municipality

Harare City Cubs1-1Golden Valley

Chegutu Pirates1-0Kariba Waves

Herentals1-0Mufakose United

Ngezi Platinum U190-0Trojan Stars

Log standing

PWDLFAPts

Herentals17124129840

Mushowani Stars1776412827

Golden Valley17755241526

Blue Swallows17827181026

Karoi United17683161126

Cranborne Bullets1775515826

Ngezi Platinum U1917755191326

Chegutu Pirates17674111125

Harare City Cubs17665182524

ZRP FC17584181323

ZRP Morris17728181923

Banket United17647191522

Mufakose United17575161622

Kariba Waves17638132721

Trojan Stars17548142519

Chitungwiza Municipality17377152416

Darwin United1735992514

Shamva17221310228