THE season is still in its infancy in the Zifa Northern Region Division One league, but the competition is already intense so much that three teams share the top spot on the log standings and an equal number tied in second.
BY HENRY MHARA
Former Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side Black Rhinos lead the way with 12 points after six games, but only because of a superior goal difference.
The army side was held to a goalless draw at Starbill, but the point they won was good enough to keep their position at the top as second-placed Mushowani Stars were held to a draw at DStv Rangers.
The major beneficiary of the two drawn matches was Gunners who joined the two sides on 12 points after their 2-1 win at ZRP Morris. The three leading teams have yet to lose a match this season, having won three each and drawn three. Ngezi Platinum leads the second batch of teams on 11 points, but they have played one match less and can open a two-point lead if they can win their match in hand.
They could have put themselves in a better position this weekend, but dropped points in a 2-2 draw away at Cargo Carriers.
The other two teams on 11 points are Blue Swallows and Herentals who won at DC Academy and Karoi United respectively.
The three have recorded three wins, with Ngezi still unbeaten while Herentals and Swallows have lost one game each.
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Herentals are the best performers of the promoted teams as the other three are languishing at the other end of the log table.
Zatex are at the bottom with two points while Darwin United are second from the bottom having recorded three draws and three defeats.
Cargo Carriers have done fairly well with their four points from one win and a draw, which they got against Ngezi Platinum. It is ZRP Morris, formerly known as Black Mambas who have been the biggest disappointment in the league so far.
They are third from the bottom, winless this far, and have been beaten twice and drawn thrice for their only three points of the season. They can move out of the relegation zone if they can win their game in hand against Ngezi Platinum, and on current form, that looks very unlikely.
