THE Central Soccer League promotional race took another twist at the weekend when Shurugwi-based Nichrut took pole position without kicking a ball.

Nichrut got three points on a 3-0 scoreline against expelled former Premiership side Border Strikers.

While Nichrut got free points, army side Tongogara, who went into the weekend fixtures with a three-point lead, were checked by their bogey side Chrome Stars 0-2 in a Kwekwe derby.

With Kwekwe having last tasted Premiership football in 2008 when Lancashire Steel was still around, most had thought the chrome miners, who had nothing but pride to play for, would make it easy for Tongogara.

However, Chrome Stars were in a no-nonsense mood and completely outplayed their crosstown neighbours.

Yoramu Ngwira, the Chrome Stars coach, said theirs was to play football and let the best team be promoted.

“We are professionals that are in the league to compete and we deserved to win this game. That they (Tongogara) are in the promotional race is not an issue to us and if they are good enough they will still gain promotion. I would like to pay tribute to my charges for a good game,” said Ngwira.

His Tongogara counterpart Kelvin Maphosa, however, refused to throw in the towel and said the race is still on.

“The race is still on and we are going to take the battle to the wire. We are not giving up as yet, it’s a tight race, but we will continue to fight it out so that Premiership football returns to Kwekwe,” Maphosa said.

Results

Blanket Mine 2–2 ZPC Munyati, Makusha 3–0 Gwanda United, ZRP Gwanda 1-1 Telone, Ivan Hoe 1–1 MSU, Chrome Stars 2–0 Tongogara, Nichrut 3–0 Border Strikers, Kwekwe Stars 0–3 Black Eagles, FC Platinum U19 0–1 Whawha, Silo United 0–2 Vumbachikwe

Table

                                          P      W    D    L     F      A     GD   Pts

Nichrut                             30    19    7    4    50    13    37    64

Tongogara                        30    19    7    4    48    17    31    64

Whawha                          30    19    7    4    43    13    30    64

Ivan Hoe                           30    16    6    8    42    21    21    54

ZPC Munyati                   30    14    11    5    37    20    17    53

Chrome Stars                  30    13    10    7    35    23    12    49

Blanket Mine                  30    10    13    7    25    21    4    43

Vumbachikwe                  30    11    10    9    35    37    -2    43

Telone                              30    10    12    8    29    24    5    42

MSU                                 30    10    11    9    32    22    10    41

FC Platinum U19             30    11    8    11    37    28    9    41

Makusha                          30    10    8    12    40    43    -3    38

Black Eagles                     30    8    11    11    24    25    -1    35

ZRP Gwanda                   30    9    7    14    35    40    -5    34

Border Strikers                30    8    5    17    15    45    -30    25

Silo United                       30    4    9    17    22    49    -27    21

Kwekwe Stars                  30    3    6    21    23    67    -44    11

Gwanda United               30    0    4    26    4    68    -64    4

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