• Highlanders surrender before hostile Gwanzura • Dynamos beat African champions • Monomotapa flops pile pressure on Mapeza • Hotel farce forces Highlanders to play in Harare • Kiglon soar as Dynamos, H'landers stutter • Stars over the moon after Independence Trophy win • Kiglon maintain fairytale start to season • Sadomba double lifts Dynamos • Highlanders held by Lengthens • Kiglon shoot down Stars to go top • Dynamos survive Mozambique scare • Malajila stars as H'landers gore Buffaloes • Dynamos take commanding lead over Sol • Malajila earns Highlanders draw in Zambia • Police call off league matches over poll violence fears • Busy schedule for league teams over Easter • Highlanders rampage as Dynamos, CAPS draw • CBZ unveils $4,5 trillion league sponsorship deal • 2008 Premier Soccer League Fixtures

By Nkanyiso Moyo

THEY say a day is a long time in politics. Make that 90 minutes in football.

A week that began with Norman Mapeza facing the axe from winless Monomotapa ended with Moses Chunga’s future being called into question at Lengthens who gave Mapeza his first points in a five-goal thriller.

Whatever happened on Saturday, Mapeza had been told his job was safe, but he knew only a win would cool the speculation surrounding his future.

But if his fortunes changed after this win, clinched in a dramatic second half which produced all five goals, Chunga’s problems were just starting and a walk-out by the club’s directors before the end told its own story.

The highly-ambitious Lengthens beat Masvingo United 2-1 in the season opener, drew 0-0 with Highlanders, beat Gunners 1-0 and lost 3-1 to shock league leaders Kiglon last week – ordinarily not a bad set of results, but very poor it would seem in the eyes of the club’s rich owners.

Lengthens spokesman George Munetsi said two consecutive defeats were “bad”, but said the club’s owners still had confidence in Chunga.

Munetsi said: “A coach is hired on the basis of results and when the results fail to come, there could be problems. But for now, we have to look at where the team is going wrong and assist the coach.

“There is no need to panic, his job is safe.”

After a dull first half, Chunga took the initiative, making a double substitution that saw him introducing Exavier Muchenje and Artwell Nyamiwa for the ineffective pair of Philip Gubudu and Patrick Makuwaza at the start of the second half.

Nyamiwa’s presence was quickly felt as he earned Lengthens a penalty after being hacked down by Monomotapa central defender Fidelis Mangezi on 47 minutes.

Bruce Tshuma sent Godfrey Mangove the wrong way from the resultant spot kick and for a good 15 minutes, Lengthens threatened to run away with it.

But Monos were on level terms on 64 minutes when Mthulisi Maphosa beat Lengthens goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura with a well taken header off a Charles Chiutsa free kick.

Monomotapa surged ahead when Ocean Mushore appeared to score directly from a corner. Tendai Samanja claimed a touch with his head, but the referee David Matope put it down as a Mushore goal.

With Lengthens still smarting, and wondering what hit them, Monomotapa scored a third when Makai Kawashu raced clear, rounded off Mazarura before planting the ball in the net.

Richard Mteki pulled one back for Lengthens on 83 minutes but Monomotapa held on.

The win helped Monomotapa climb over Lancashire Steel who were further sucked into the early season relegation dog fight following a 2-1 mauling by Eastern Lions.

Speculation was mounting this week that Lancashire coach Max Malume Moyo could be replaced by Gishon Ntini, who has reportedly held talks with the club.

Underhill recorded their first win of the season when they thumped Njube Sundowns 3-1 on Saturday, while Masvingo United fell by the same scoreline to CAPS FC.

Chapungu goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda slotted from the penalty spot to give his side maximum points against Gunners. The Midlands club moved into second position with 11 points, one behind leaders Kiglon, who face Dynamos on Thursday.

CBZ Premier Soccer League Results:
Tuesday:
Shooting Stars 1-3 Motor Action

Sunday:
Masvingo 1-3 CAPS FC, Eastern Lions 2-1 Lancashire Steel

Saturday:
Monomotapa 3-2 Lengthens, Chapungu 1-0 Gunners, Underhill 3-1 Njube Sundowns

CBZ Premier Soccer League Table (30 April 2008)

TEAM		Played	Won	Drew	Lost	G/F	G/A	Points
1	Kiglon	4	4	0	0	9	3	12
2	Chapungu	5	3	2	0	7	1	11
3	Motor Action	5	3	1	1	8	4	10
4	CAPS FC	5	2	3	0	7	4	9
5	CAPS United	4	2	2	0	3	1	8
6	Gunners	5	2	1	2	6	4	7
7	Lengthens	5	2	1	2	6	7	7
8	Eastern Lions	5	1	2	2	3	4	7
9	Njube Sundowns	5	2	0	3	7	8	6
10	Highlanders	4	1	3	0	6	2	6
11	Dynamos	4	1	3	0	4	2	6
12	Shooting Stars	5	2	0	3	4	8	6
13	Underhill	5	3	1	3	6	8	4
14	Monomotapa	5	1	0	4	4	8	3
15	Masvingo United	5	0	2	3	4	8	2
16	Lancashire Steel	5	0	1	4	2	8	1

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