Monomotapa get in mood for big party

• Mandigora gives up title hope as Dynamos fall

• Njube Sundowns, Zim Saints merger unlikely

• Majabvi rescues Dynamos as cholera halts Monos title charge

• CAPS United complete season cup double

• Dynamos' title defence falters after Gunners draw

• Sparks fly as 2008 Soccer Stars selected

• Monomotapa, Dynamos in dead heat

• Dynamos riots that shamed football

• Dynamos cut Monomotaopa lead to 10 points

• Dynamos held by Highlanders

• Dynamos through to CBZ Cup semis

• Monomotapa open 12-point lead

• Motor Action, Kiglon join top four

• Dynamos beat Chapungu, move into third

• Dynamos thump Railstars, through to CBZ Cup quarter finals

• H'landers chairman faces wrath of fans

• Chunga leads battle to save Gunners

• CAPS end 3-year cup drought

• Violence flares up as H'landers booted out of CBZ Cup

• Monomotapa 9 points clear as Sundowns fall back

• CBZ unveils US$200,000 CBZ FA Cup

• 2008 Premier Soccer League Fixtures

By Nkanyiso Moyo
Posted top the web: 08/12/2008 17:43:45
MONOMOTAPA have promised “the biggest party of the year” after they moved six points clear at the top of the CBZ Premier Soccer League on Sunday.

Norman Mapeza’s men could seal an unlikely premiership title as early as Tuesday next week when they meet their closest rivals, Dynamos.

After losing four straight games at the start of the season, Monomotapa have only been beaten once since – demolishing all opposition on their way to the summit of the league where they have been since June.

Monomotapa meet Underhill on Wednesday, before waiting a week to play Dynamos. If they win both matches, they will become champions.

After snatching a dramatic late winner against Kiglon on Sunday, and Dynamos losing to Lengthens 2-1, even Mapeza – who had said he would only speak to reporters at the end of the season – found a voice.

"I am happy that we have gained the three points and I am not even looking at what happened across town where Dynamos were playing. We are not looking at how the other teams are playing in the league but we will try to control our own game,” said the former national team captain and defender.

He added: "I will still have been pleased even if we had got just one point from this game. It was a tough match and the chances were 50-50, but in the end we played well and won. We are not focusing on the league title but on getting the best results from each game.

"There are still four games to go and we will continue playing our normal football. But for today, I am really proud of my boys and the way they have taken this match.”

If Mapeza was measured, the same cannot be said for his assistant Rodwell Dhlakama who declared: “We are getting there… This is football and anything can happen, but we want to have the biggest party of the year when the season ends.”

Monomotapa still entertain anxieties about referees being bribed and teams throwing games – but Dhlakama says their players have been told to just mind their own performances.

“We are not looking at how the other teams are playing, but just at our own results. We have said to the players, ‘don’t worry about Dynamos, worry about winning all your games’," he said, echoing his boss.

Dhlakama stressed they needed to keep their focus “because we want to play in the Champions League next season”.

Monomotapa will play all their remaining fixtures against Dynamos, Lengthens, Chapungu and Underhill in Harare -- giving them some measure of advantage.

For Dynamos, on top of meeting Monomotapa, there is a tricky trip to relegation haunted Masvingo, the big derby clash with CAPS United and home tie against Kiglon.

DYNAMOS' REMAINING FIXTURES:
Monomotapa (away), Masvingo (away), Kiglon (home), CAPS United (home)

MONOMOTAPA'S REMAINING FIXTURES:
Underhill (home), Dynamos (home), Chapungu (home), Lengthens (away)

CBZ Premier Soccer League Results:
Saturday: Sundowns 1-0 CAPS United, CAPS FC 1-2 Lancashire Steel, Shooting Stars 4-1 Gunners

Sunday: Lengthens 2-1 Dynamos, Kiglon 0-1 Monomotapa (Chibuku), Chapungu 1-2 Highlanders (Ascot), Underhill v Masvingo United (Mucheke), Eastern Lions 3-2 Motor Action (match abandoned after 72 minutes after Motor Action walked off pitch)

CBZ Premier Soccer League: Monday, December 08, 2008

TEAM		Played	Won	Drew	Lost	G/F	G/A	Points
1	Monomotapa	26	18	3	5	41	25	57

2	Dynamos	26	14	9	3	33	20	51
3	Njube Sundowns	28	14	3	11	39	32	45
4	Highlanders	28	9	15	4	32	17	42
5	Lengthens	28	11	7	10	37	39	41
6	Shooting Stars	27	10	7	10	30	25	37
7*	Motor Action	27	11	4	12	32	34	37
8	Kiglon	27	8	12	7	27	27	36
9	Gunners	28	8	10	10	37	39	34
10	Underhill	26	8	9	9	33	39	33
11	Lancashire Steel	28	9	6	13	34	45	33
12	Chapungu	27	9	5	13	29	28	32
13*	Eastern Lions	27	6	11	10	19	27	29

14	Masvingo United	27	7	8	12	29	43	29
15	CAPS United	25	6	10	9	26	27	28
16	CAPS FC	28	4	10	14	25	36	22
* Match result awaiting league arbitration. Likely to be awarded to Lions on 3-2 scoreline