SHABANIE Mine took advantage of a slip up by leaders Blanket Mine to power to the top of the Zifa Central Soccer League standings at the weekend.

The asbestos miners edged visiting Vumbachikwe 1-0, while Blanket Mine, who had won all their four opening matches, lost 0-2 to Tongogara.

Admire Mutsambwa’s solitary strike a minute before the breather earned Shabanie Mine maximum points that shot them to the top with 12 points.

Blanket Mine and Shabanie Mine are tied on 12 points, but the asbestos miners top the table due to a better goal difference.

Shabanie Mine coach Tendai Chikuni said despite the club’s objective being to return to the Premiership, it was too early to speak with certainty.

“We’re only five games into the season and the league is a marathon, so we’ll take each game as it comes hoping to win every game. There are other teams that are doing well and we need to do the job for ourselves,” Chikuni said.

The loss to Shabanie Mine condemned Vumbachikwe to ninth place with six points.

Tongogara are now third with 10 points from four games after the points they earned against Habane Sharks, who pulled out of the league, were nullified.

Tongogara coach Ignatius Kapitapita said he was building from the team’s positive start to the season, but would also be taking each game as it comes.

In other matches, Chrome Stars hammered ZPC Munyati 4-0 in their first win of the season.

Results

ZRP Beitbridge 3 – 0 Kwekwe Sables, Jessie Mine 1 – 1 MSU, ZRP Gwanda 1 – 0 FC Platinum U19, Shabanie Mine 1 – 0 Vumbachikwe, Ivan Hoe 3 – 1 Gweru United, Tongogara 2 – 0 Blanket Mine, ZPC Munyati 0 – 4 Chrome Stars, Shabanie Mine 1 – 0 Vumbachikwe