• Dynamos slash Monomotapa's lead with emphatic win • Monomotapa, Dynamos set up tantalising season finale • 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: 21/12/2008 19:20:45
MONOMOTAPA are the 2008 Zimbabwe soccer kings.

Norman Mapeza re-wrote the history books on Saturday after leading unheralded Monomotapa to the league title following a goalless draw against Chapungu on a dramatic day in the CBZ Premier Soccer League.

Former champions Dynamos, having thumped Monomotapa 3-0 on Wednesday, seemed well on course to gatecrash the big party, but came unstuck, losing 1-0 at Mucheke to Masvingo. That sealed their fate and the defence of their title.

Monomotapa will now represent Zimbabwe in the 2009 edition of the Africa Champions League.

At just 36, Mapeza becomes the third youngest manager to lead his team to the league title after Charles Mhlauri (34) and Methembe Ndlovu (33) who won the league with CAPS United and Highlanders in 2004 and 2006 respectively.

Dynamos lost in controversial fashion at Mucheke after Lloyd Hlahla converted a 26th minute penalty awarded for handball against defender Thomas Sweswe.

Dynamos’ Desmond Maringwa sustained a cut on the head at the end of the match after the former champions' supporters unleashed an orgy of violence, unhappy with the officiating of referee Anthony Njaya.

Dynamos had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down and Lazarus Muhoni had a goal disallowed for offside much to the rising irritation of the visiting supporters.

Players fought in the tunnel after the match as violence flared on the stands. Njaya left the match venue under heavy police guard.

With the nation gripped by the drama at the top, CAPS United, one of the country's biggest teams edged closer to relegation following a 1-0 defeat away at Eastern Lions.

United, arguably the third biggest club in the country after Dynamos and Highlanders, must now beat Highlanders on Monday to be sure of playing in the top division next year.

United's situation is made worse by the fact that Eastern Lions, one of the teams taking up the three relegation spots, is likely to be awarded their abandoned game against Motor Action, which would drop the 2006 champions into the relegation zone.

At Barbourfields, Highlanders conspired to make sure Kwekwe does not lose a premiership team next season, going down 3-0 to Lancashire Steel. Caleb Masocha struck a brace before Fortune Ncube added the third in injury time.

Monomotapa will receive the championship trophy and medals on Monday in their final game of the season at home against Kiglon.

CBZ Premier Soccer League Results:
Saturday: Masvingo 1-0 Dynamos; Monomotapa 0-0 Chapungu; Highlanders 0-3 Lancashire Steel; Eastern Lions 1-0 CAPS United; Gunners v CAPS FC (CAPS did not turn up); Kiglon 2-0 Lengthens

Friday: Shooting Stars 3-0 Njube Sundowns

Monday: 2008 final fixtures-Monday (*venues to be decided) Motor Action vs Shooting Stars (Motor Action Sports Club); Dynamos vs Kiglon (Rufaro); Lengthens vs Monomotapa (Chibuku); Lancashire Steel vs Eastern Lions (Baghdad); Njube Sundowns vs Underhill (Pelandaba); CAPS FC vs Masvingo (Dzivarasekwa), *CAPS United vs Highlanders; *Gunners vs Chapungu

CBZ Premier Soccer League: Sunday, December 21, 2008

TEAM		Played	Won	Drew	Lost	G/F	G/A	Points
1	Monomotapa	29	18	5	6	41	27	59
2	Dynamos	29	15	10	4	37	22	55
3	Njube Sundowns	29	14	3	12	39	35	45
4	Highlanders	29	9	15	5	33	21	42
5	Shooting Stars	29	11	8	10	34	26	41
6	Lengthens	29	11	7	11	37	41	40
7	Kiglon	29	9	12	8	29	29	39
8	Underhill	29	9	11	9	37	41	38
9*	Motor Action	28	11	4	13	32	36	37
10	Lancashire Steel	29	10	6	13	37	45	36
11	Chapungu	29	9	7	13	31	30	34
12	Gunners	28	8	10	10	37	39	34
13	CAPS United	29	7	12	10	31	31	33
14	Masvingo United	29	8	9	12	32	45	33
15*	Eastern Lions	28	7	11	10	20	27	32
16	R - CAPS FC	28	4	10	14	25	36	22
* Match result awaiting league arbitration. Likely to be awarded to Lions on 3-2 scoreline

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