MAD: Highlanders coach Methembe Ndlovu • Dynamos draw African giants • Malajila hat-trick buries Masvingo • Khoza leveller keeps Kiglon in touch with leaders • Chunga exhausts Length of patience • CAPS United fans turn on Masomere • Highlanders bomb in Sudan • Marere stunner marks Dynamos' greatest win • Kiglon surrender lead to Chapungu • Highlanders close in on unbeaten Kiglon • Mapeza turns tables on Chunga as Monos win • CBZ unveils $4,5 trillion league sponsorship deal • 2008 Premier Soccer League Fixtures

By Nkanyiso Moyo

HIGHLANDERS face a huge Premier League fine and possible forfeiture of three points after an insane protest at a referee’s decision – involving all 11 players and coach Methembe Ndlovu -- caused the abandonment of their league match away to Gunners on Saturday.

Gunners led 2-1 with five minutes remaining.

It was the second time in four days that Gwanzura witnessed on-field mayhem after similar protests by Njube Sundowns over a controversial penalty awarded to champions Dynamos led to a 10-minute stoppage. The penalty proved to be the match winner.

Cuthbert Malajila’s 8th minute goal appeared enough to give Highlanders their fourth victory of the season until a Gunners rally late on rattled them.

Ramson Zhuwawo drew Gunners level on 77 minutes after finding space inside the Highlanders box before firing a rising shot past Washington Arubi.

Gunners continued to pin Highlanders back, and as the final whistle approached, they were awarded a free kick inside the Highlanders half.

Francis Chandida’s shot from the set-piece ricocheted off the Highlanders wall and fell invitingly into the path of Zhuwawo who cut back into the box where Felix Kuswatuka and Witness Nyamutsaki were lurking.

Nyamutsaki missed the ball by inches but Kuswatuka – who Highlanders argued was offside -- got the connection, his low finish squeezing past a sprawling Arubi.

Then chaos ensued. Ndlovu sprinted onto the field, referee Oswald Mukucha his target. The Highlanders players, led by Arubi who was the first to give the referee a mighty rollicking, joined in the melee.

The players swarmed the referee from all angles, all escape his routes firmly shut. Gift Lunga did most of the bidding, and was shown a straight red for his troubles.

Highlanders chairman Ernest Sibanda, watching from the stands, was jerked off his seat and soon, he too was on the pitch – but playing the good guy.

Highlanders players – stung by the loss of Lunga -- retreated to the touchline. A few minutes later, they trudged back onto the pitch but clearly without any intention to play.

Mukucha ended the show, and Highlanders prepared to face the music – a case that will ultimately throw into question the professionalism of local referees after a string of dubious decisions which have left players and coaches fuming up and down the country.

Teams
Gunners: L. Makwavarara, C. Nyadombo, N. Ziwini, Z. Jambo (C. Makuruva, 51mins), F. Kuswatuka, T. Mtisi, W. Nyamutsaki, T. Tengwe (E. Mudzamisi, 67mins), T. Malunga, H. Zvirekwi (F. Chandida, 80mins), E. Zhuwawo

Highlanders: W. Arubi, G. Banda, H. Dick, P. Kabwe (A. Mbaiwa, 48mins), C. Malajila, E. Mudzingwa, Z. Ngodzo, I. Tinarwo (W. Sibanda, 46mins), D. Zimbago, G. Lunga

CBZ Premier Soccer League Results:
Sunday:
Masvingo United 1-0 Lancashire Steel; Monomotapa 1-0 CAPS FC; Njube Sundowns 3-1 Lengthens; Shooting Stars 0-2 Dynamos

Saturday:
Gunners 2-1 Highlanders 1 (match abandoned); Kiglon 0-0 Eastern Lions; Motor Action 1-0 Chapungu; Underhill 3-1 CAPS United

CBZ Premier Soccer League Table (26 May 2008)

TEAM		Played	Won	Drew	Lost	G/F	G/A	Points
1	Chapungu	9	5	3	1	16	4	18
2	Kiglon	9	4	3	2	11	7	16
3	Motor Action	9	5	1	3	11	8	16
4	Dynamos	7	3	4	0	9	3	13
5	Underhill	9	4	1	4	15	17	13
6*	Highlanders	6	3	3	0	11	2	12
7	Njube Sundowns	8	4	0	4	14	14	12
8	Monomotapa	8	4	0	4	11	13	12
9*	Gunners	8	3	2	3	10	11	11
10	Lengthens	8	3	2	3	9	11	11
11	Masvingo United	9	3	2	4	7	13	11
12	CAPS FC	9	2	4	3	10	11	10
13	CAPS United	9	2	2	5	8	12	8
14	Eastern Lions	8	1	4	3	3	5	7
15	Lancashire Steel	9	2	1	6	9	14	7
16	Shooting Stars	9	2	1	6	6	14	7

* Log does NOT include the Gunners v Highlanders match which awaits PSL disciplinary ruling

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