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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
THE Zifa Northern Region Division One league continues to woo sponsors into its corner and will unveil an eight-team knock-out tournament in Harare on Monday.
The league unveiled a sponsor for their league, World Navi, this year and also a sponsor for the Golden Boot, Supreme Panel Beaters, who will also reward the player who emerges as the top goalscorer every month.

The eight-team knock-out tournament comes at a time when the league is also in discussions with a sponsor for a tourney that will feature all their teams before the end of this season. Veteran striker Eddie Nyika was the first winner of the monthly top goal-scorer award sponsored by Supreme Panel Beaters. “I had not been playing regularly in the past few months and the few times I played I got cameo roles but in August things changed and I had a lot of game time,” Nyika, who plays for Commando Bullets, said.

“It feels good to remain competitive considering my age, it is good that I can still compete with players regarded as youngsters. The award came as a surprise to me as I only have those four goals this season.

“I was not a regular all along but when the opportunity to start came, I grabbed it with both hands and the result is this award,” Nyika said.

Nyika thanked his teammates for their helping hand. “We work as a team and I owe this (award) to my teammates who have helped me find my touch and even motivating me to do well. I think my experience is helping me and I hope to continue with the fine form in the future. I command a lot of respect from some upcoming players who call me Mdhara, which always motivates me to always be at my best so that they have a role model to emulate,” said Nyika.

He said he wasn’t looking at winning the Golden Boot but could not rule himself out of the race.

“I think I cannot say I am aiming for the Golden Boot but anything can happen in this game so don’t completely rule myself out. We still have games to play and they are important for us as a team because recently we have being doing well so we are under pressure to maintain that winning momentum. We conceded several goals in the first half of the season but now we are picking up points. We also have some good players who are doing well and making their mark at the club in a big way,” Nyika said.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Region Division One soccer league, Mutare City retained their position on top of the log after dismissing FC Three Leaves 2-0 over the weekend.

Eastern Region Results

FC Three Leaves 0-2 Mutare City;
Masvingo Utd 3-2 Ruwa Utd; Surrey 5-1 Chivhu Stars;
Gaza Gunners 0-0 ZRP Masvingo; Tenax 0-2 Buffalo Junior;
Mutare Poly 0-1 Eastern Stars; Mwenezana 4-0 Black Eagles; Renco Mine 0-0 Gutu
Southern Region Results
ZPC Hwange 1-0 Tsholotsho; Plumtree Chiefs 2-1 New West; Mpumalanga 0-0 Ntabazinduna;
Hwange( Under-20) 1-1 Trumus;
P/Cement 0-3 Quelaton;
Old Nic Mine 0-3 Technosphere; Black Boots 2-0 Elephants.
Central Region Results
Chrome Stars 2-1 FC Platinum U-19;
MSU 3-0 Chemumvuri Pirates; Vumbachikwe 0-0 Gaths Mine; Tongogara 1-1 ZRP Beitbridge; Whawha 4-2 Silo United;
Gweu City 2-1 Nkayi United