• Chikwaikwai named Soccer Star of the Year • CAPS United survive, Monomotapa claim their prize • Monmomotapa clinch premiership title • Dynamos slash Monomotapa's lead with emphatic win • Monomotapa, Dynamos set up tantalising season finale • Monomotapa get in mood for big party • 2008 Premier Soccer League Fixtures

By Nkanyiso Moyo
Posted to the web: 02/01/2009 20:20:45
LANCASHIRE Steel moved to the top of the Premier Soccer League play-offs mini-league after beating Mwana Africa 5-2 while Eagles sent a strong message of their intentions to join the topflight with a win against Shabanie Mine on Wednesday.

Both teams now have four points from two matches, but Lancashire have a better goal difference.

Eagles, partly funded by Polish-based former Warriors defender Dickson Choto, stunned former Confederation Cup participants Shabanie Mine 3-1 at Maglas.

Lancashire Steel are fighting to stay in the Premiership while ambitious Eagles are aiming to join the elite league after finishing runners-up in the 2008 Zifa Eastern Region championship behind Highway.

Tongai Mangwendere stole the show at Trojan Mine when he scored four goals for Lancashire Steel as the Kwekwe-based steelmen continued with their impressive away form.

In their previous away match, Innocent Chogugudza’s Lancashire Steel thumped Highlanders 3-0 at Barbourfields in a CBZ Premiership match on December 20.

Mangwendere scored in the 12th, 23rd, 58th and 73rd minutes to give Lancashire Steel a 4-1 lead before Abton Chekai made it 5-2 in injury time.

Phineas Mine had made it 2-1 with a goal for Mwana Africa in the 28th minute while Webster Chingodza scored the other goal for the home side in the 88th minute from the penalty spot.

Lancashire Steel, who seemed dead and buried in the Premiership before Chogugudza joined them, seem to have problems at their own Baghdad Stadium where they needed a controversial 82nd minute penalty to salvage a 2-2 draw with Eagles last Saturday.

Lancashire Steel would not be taking part in the play-offs had they avoided defeat in their last game of the Premiership season against Eastern Lions at Baghdad. They lost 1-0 to finish fourth from bottom.

At Maglas, Eagles continued with their impressive form and again stormed into a 2-0 halftime lead courtesy of strikes from Courage Denias in the 13th minute and Joel Mutepfa in the 16th minute.

Clive Kawinga made it 3-0 in the 71st minute before Douglas Walaza grabbed Shabanie Mine’s consolation goal in the 88th minute.

Weekend Fixtures:

Lancashire Steel vs Shabanie Mine Eagles vs Mwana Africa

2008 Premier Soccer League Play-Offs:

TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	PTS
Lancashire Steel	2	1	1	0	7	4	4
Eagles	2	1	1	0	5	3	4
Shabanie Mine	2	1	0	1	2	3	3
Mwana Africa	2	0	0	2	3	6	0

2008 CBZ Premier Soccer League Top Goal Scorers:

23 GOALS: Evans Chikwaikwai (Njube Sundowns)
16 GOALS: Cuthberth Malajila (Highlanders)
15 GOALS: Edward Sadomba (Dynamos)
11 GOALS: Charles Chiutsa (Monomotapa)
9 GOALS: Douglas Zimbago (Highlanders)
8 GOALS: Daniel Zokoto (Monomotapa)
8 GOALS: Phillip Makanje (Lancashire Steel)
8 GOALS: Norman Maroto (Dynamos)
7 GOALS: Makai Kawashu (Monomotapa)
7 GOALS: Tendai Nyamadzawo (Lengthens)

2008 CBZ Premier Soccer League Final Standings:

TEAM		Played	Won	Drew	Lost	G/F	G/A	Points
1	C - Monomotapa	30	18	6	6	41	28	60
2	Dynamos	30	16	10	4	41	25	58
3	Njube Sundowns	30	15	3	12	42	36	48
5	Shooting Stars	30	12	8	10	37	26	44
4	Highlanders	30	9	15	6	34	25	42
6	Lengthens	30	11	8	11	37	41	41
7	Gunners	30	10	10	10	42	39	40
8	Kiglon	30	9	12	9	31	32	39
9	Underhill	30	9	11	10	38	44	38
10	Eastern Lions	30	9	11	10	24	27	38
11	Motor Action	30	11	4	15	32	42	37
12	CAPS United	30	8	12	10	35	32	36
13	P/O - Lancashire	30	10	6	14	37	45	36
14	R - Chapungu	30	9	7	14	31	32	34
15	R - Masvingo United	30	8	9	13	34	49	33
16*	R - CAPS FC	29	5	10	15	29	40	25

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