• Relegation battle goes to the wire • Dynamos clinch league and cup double • 2007 Premier Soccer League Fixtures

By Nkanyiso Moyo

BLACK Rhinos, Hwange and Mwana Africa were all relegated as the curtain came down on the 2007 CBZ Premier Soccer League season on Sunday.

Rhinos were beaten 3-1by Monomotapa and Hwange lost by the same score away to Highlanders. Mwana Africa were run down 2-1 by Motor Action.

A day earlier, Dynamos, the league champions, received their league trophy at Harare’s Gwanzura Stadium after they accounted for visiting Lancashire Steel 2-0.

At a rain-drenched Barbourfields Stadium, visiting Hwange were hoping for a harvest of goals against a Highlanders side in the grips of a barren spell.

The sense of the occasion was not lost on Highlanders fans who appeared to cheer the visitors – the only league representatives for Matabeleland North province until Sunday.

On the pitch, Hwange received no mercy from the rampant former champions, intent on finishing the season with a flourish after a string of poor home results.

Eric Mudzingwa had scored Highlanders’ opener before Gilbert Zulu converted a penalty to draw Hwange level. Bizarrely, the goal jerked Highlanders fans off their seats. They genuinely delighted at Hwange’s effort. You should have witnessed their furious reaction when referee Cosmas Nyoni struck off Richard Jongwe’s ‘goal’ for offside.

But if the fans felt a sudden outpouring of affection for a team that has pulled off amazing results against them over the years, that feeling was not shared by Methembe Ndlovu’s troops who twice struck with deadly intent through double-scorer, Obadiah Tarumbwa.

Despair swept the Hwange side at the final whistle, the consequence of their defeat assuming broader relevance. Carrington Gomba’s eyes welled, and Alick Nyoni froze on the spot as the final whistle rang through Barbourfields. Nation Dube, a veteran of previous relegation battles now an assistant to Tavaka Gumbo, aimlessly paced around the dug-out. He waved away reporters seeking his reaction.

Acting team secretary Burzil Dube was left to face the media. He did his best to sound positive after seeing the coal miners shunted into the darkest tunnel.

“We just have to live with it,” Dube said, “we will be back in 2009. It’s just a year’s holiday in Division One.”

Gumbo will know shortly if he will keep his position as Hwange attempt an early bounce from Division One. As Shabanie Mine, Zimbabwe Saints and Railstars will attest, there are no guarantees for a quick return to top flight football.

For Mwana Africa, two years of top-flight football and a continental adventure in the Confederations Cup came to an agonising end. Their relegation is sure to trigger a massive human auction at the Bindura-based club as their top players are snapped up by other teams.

Mwana, who fired Willard Khumalo and replaced him with his assistant Arthur Tutani, needed nothing short of victory, plus defeats for Hwange and Black Rhinos, to guarantee their survival. But they came unstuck against Motor Action who finished the league in an unfamiliar 10th position.

Black Rhinos could also have survived on the last day of the season but they collapsed against fellow strugglers Monomotapa. Eastern Lions, the closest team to the relegation pack, were the biggest beneficiaries despite a 3-1 mauling by CAPS United. They are level on points with Rhinos, but boast a better goal difference which just kept them in the league.

Rhinos were last relegated in 1989 and coach Droment Chirova, who almost took them to the league title in 2002, now faces the axe.

While despair hit the relegated three, Dynamos were celebrating their first league title in a decade. Murape Murape grabbed a double, maintaining Dynamos’ unbeaten record in the second half of the season which sent them soaring over Highlanders.

The Harare club’s players were awarded medals and paraded the league trophy before their cheering fans.

Njube Sundowns ended the season on a high, edging Chapungu 4-3 at Pelandaba in Gwanda. The match was marred by a six-minute stoppage after a hotly disputed penalty awarded to the hosts.

Soccer Star of the Year finalist Evans Chikwayikwayi grabbed a hat trick and the fourth arrived from Patrick Tom, while Chapungu replied through Cuthberth Malajila, Hasmonia Ziso and Francis Kanda.

CBZ Premier Soccer League Results:

Saturday - Dynamos 2-0 Lancashire Steel, Shooting Stars 0-0 Lengthens, Njube Sundowns 4-3 Chapungu

Sunday - Highlanders 3-1 Hwange, Masvingo 1-3 CAPS FC, CAPS United 3-1 Eastern Lions, Monomotapa 3-1 Black Rhinos, Mwana Africa 1-2 Motor Action

FINAL 2007 CBZ PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE TABLE:

TEAM		Played	Won	Drew	Lost	G/F	G/A	Points
CH	Dynamos	30	19	7	4	41	15	64
2	Highlanders	30	16	7	7	44	25	55
3	Masvingo United	30	14	7	9	37	26	49
4	Shooting Stars	30	11	8	11	36	36	41
5	Njube Sundowns	30	12	5	13	37	45	41
6	Lengthens	30	11	7	12	36	36	40
7	CAPS FC	30	11	6	13	38	39	39
8	CAPS United	30	8	15	7	26	25	39
9	Chapungu United	30	11	6	13	37	39	39
10	Motor Action	30	11	6	13	37	40	39
11	Lancashire Steel	30	10	9	11	33	40	39
12	Monomotapa United	30	11	5	14	33	40	38
13	Eastern Lions	30	7	13	10	26	31	34
RE	Black Rhinos	30	8	10	12	30	41	34
RE	Hwange	30	8	8	14	28	36	32
RE	Mwana Africa	30	6	13	11	24	32	31

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