Sports news from The Zimbabwean

Women’s league fails to kick off

BULAWAYO - The proposed women’s soccer premier league has failed to kick-off due to lack of sponsorship. The revelations come at a time when the men’s premiership has also failed to attract sponsors as companies are in financial dire straits due to the economic decline in the country.

This also comes against unconfirmed reports that the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is holding on to a US$25,000 grant from FIFA meant for the development of local women’s soccer.

Eucebia Nleya-Maseko, the secretary general of the national women’s soccer league, yesterday confirmed that their league has failed to take off owing to lack of sponsorship.

Nleya-Maseko said, currently, their division one regional and provincial division two leagues are running without sponsors.

“We had planned to set up a women’s national premier soccer league at the beginning of this year but the league failed to take-off due to lack sponsorship from the corporate world,” said Nleya-Maseko.

According to Nleya-Maseko, “some teams in these leagues are currently failing to fulfil their fixtures due to lack of transport funds.”

The regional division one league comprises of the northern, southern and eastern region while the provincial division two league comprises of all the country’s provinces.

On the FIFA grant meant for the development of women’s soccer, it is understood that the ZIFA executive told the women’s leagues to put structures first and to submit their budget for approval before the release of the grant.

Contacted for comment, ZIFA chairman, Wellington Nyatanga refused to comment saying he is out of the office.

“Who told you that, I am not in the office right now, I am on the farm. You can talk to the CEO,” Nyatanga said.

He later referred all questions to the chief executive officer, Jonathan Mashingaidze, who was however not reachable at the time of going to press. - CAJ News


Harare, Gunners draw as Lengthens win and close in!

HARARE - Harare United and Gunners maintained their unbeaten run in as many weeks as possible when they drew with their respective opponents over the weekend, but still Harare maintains their pole position on the log.

First to draw were Gunners who were held to a nil all draw by newcomers Grain Tigers at Gwanzura Stadium. Harare were held to a two all draw by Black Mambas at Morris Depot Grounds. They still separate each other by five points. In the third place Lengthens are still in the chase for the pole position with a win, 2-1, at Pfupajena to Lulu Rovers who haven’t won a single match from their last nine outings.

Another team which is causing some sleepless nights to the top three is fourth placed new boys, Blue Jets, who haven’t been beaten from their 10 games. Neither have Harare United, but they haven’t managed to win more games – most of which endedin a draw. The top team have won 8, drawn 2 and lost 0. They drew nil all in a home dubby against Chegutu Pirates at Pfupajena Stadium.

Turnall, another new team in the league, have caused some upsets since the beginning of the season. They won their fifth game over the weekend by beating former PSL team Kambuzuma 3-2 to move up the ladder to the fifth position.

Elsewhere across the country Douglas Warriors drew one all with Golden Kopje, and Felfar Stars were beaten one nil by another newcomer Kurai United at DZ Stadium. Shamva lost their 2nd game in a row 1-2 to Karoi United and ZPC Kariba managed to smile after their away massacre to 2nd placed Lengthens last weekend by beating another struggling team Eiffel Flats 3 nil.

Generally there were no surprises to write home about, except that Harare and Gunners are starting to loose a grip on their pole positions by continuously drawing weekend in weekend out, and also conceding goals. Usually at the end of the season goals do count, so if Harare continues to concede goals the way they are doing now they will live to regret it at the end of the season. – Sports reporter


Heartbreak for underdogs

BY JOHN HUGHES

LONDON - Underdogs West Ham and Gretna suffered heartbreak in the English and Scottish FA Cup Finals respectively, losing in penalty shoot-outs.

Midfield ace Steven Gerrard scored two sensational equalisers as Liverpool came from 2-0 and 3-2 down to draw 3-3 with West Ham in the English clash and then go on to win 3-1 on penalties. Gretna, from the third tier of Scottish football, forced a 1-1 draw with Hearts through Ryan McGuffie's equaliser and then hung on in extra-time to force a 1-1 draw before losing 4-2 in a spot-kick lottery.

Leeds and Watford come face-to-face in the Championship play-off final in Cardiff this Sunday to decide who goes up into the Premiership along with Reading and Sheffield United who gained the two automatic promotion places.

* ZambiaN striker Collins Mbesuma, 20, has been released by Portsmouth a year after signing from Kaiser Chiefs. A prolific goal scorer in South Africa, Mbesuma made just four appearances for Portsmouth--all as a substitute--and never scored.


Dave Houghton’s men win again

LONDON - Derbyshire, coached by one-time Zimbabwe star Dave Houghton, kept up their flying start to the season with an exciting nine-run win over Warwickshire in a C&G Trophy match in Birmingham. Harare-born Dale Benkenstein was out for 0 as his side Durham crashed to a 125-run defeat by Lancashire in Manchester.

Zimbabwean veteran Graeme Hick made just 12 for Worcestershire in their 61-run win at Leicester and ex-Zimbabwe ace Murray Goodwin scored 44 to help Sussex to a 97-run victory over Glamorgan in Cardiff. – John Hughes


PSL Weekend Results

Buymore 1-0 Lancashire; Monomotapa 0-0 Mwana Africa; Motor-action 1-0 Shabanie; Black Rhinos 1-3 Highlanders; Zimbabwe Saints 1-3 Chapungu; CAPS United 3-0 Hwange; Dynamos 2-2 Masvingo

PSL log Standings

TEAM Played Won Drew Lost G/F G/A Points

Highlanders 8 8 0 0 22 7 24

Chapungu 8 6 0 2 20 10 18

Monomotapa 8 4 3 1 10 5 15

Caps United 8 4 2 2 12 8 14

Mwana Africa 8 4 2 2 9 5 14

Masvingo United 8 4 2 2 12 9 14

Motor Action 8 4 1 3 8 9 13

Dynamos 8 3 3 2 11 8 12

Black Rhinos 8 3 2 3 10 12 11

Hwange 8 3 1 4 11 13 10

Lancashire Steel 7 2 3 2 8 5 9

Buymore 8 2 3 3 3 6 9

Shooting Stars 8 2 0 6 9 16 6

Shabanie Mine 8 1 2 5 6 11 5

Railstars 8 0 1 7 5 20 1

Zimbabwe Saints 7 0 0 7 3 15 0


Highlanders subdue battling Rhinos

HARARE - Pacesetters Highlanders subdued battling Black Rhinos 3-1 at Rufaro Stadium yesterday to maintain their 100 percent winning streak since the star of the season.

Rhinos had vowed to stop the Bosso, but failed as the championship favourites made it eight wins out of eight away from home. Dynamos gave in to a second-half onslaught by Masvingo that wiped their first-half lead in a grudge Premier Soccer League match at Mucheke Stadium that ended in a stalemate yesterday.

With sensation Evans Gwekwerere out through injury, his replacement Sebastian Mutizirwa did not disappoint as he scored a brace that gave Dynamos the lead in the first half.

However, Luke Masomere’s charges returned from the break a rejuvenated side as they scored twice to level the scores against the team that denied them the chance to claim the league championship on the last day of last season.

In Harare, defending champions CAPS United heaved a sigh of relief when they clobbered visiting Hwange 3-0 to ease their in-house troubles that have been blamed for their poor form this season.

CAPS, whose players are unhappy over their remuneration, had lost their two previous encounters.

Across town, new boys Shooting Stars finally found the winning formula when they overwhelmed struggling Railstars 3-1.

Chapungu enjoyed the same scoreline against basement side Zimbabwe Saints as they recovered from their setback last week when they lost to Motor Action 2-3.

Masvingo 2, Dynamos 2

Caps United 3, Hwange 0

Black Rhinos 1, Highlanders 3

Chapungu 3, Zimbabwe Saints 1

Shooting Stars 3, Railstars 1 - ZimOnline