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Mukudzei Chingwere in Gweru
Chapungu ………………………. 0 (2)
Bantu Rovers …………………….. 0AIRFORCE side Chapungu sealed their place in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League with a comfortable dispatch of relegated Bantu Rovers at Ascot yesterday. Blessing Sahondo scored first for Chapungu with a low shot two minutes after the breather and former Harare City winger Osborne Mukuradare added gloss to the score line with another strike eight minutes later.

The Gweru airmen are left with two unforgiving contests against title chasers Chicken Inn in Bulawayo and FC Platinum at home, but having opened an eight-point lead above the safety net on the log standings they can now breathe easily ahead of their final matches. Both sides played with a lot of caution in the early exchanges with the exciting flow of football being halted by a wet pitch, after some showers hit the venue before the match and during half-time. Chapungu’s youthful trio of Sahondo, Ian Nyoni and debutant young Warriors’ midfielder Davison Ncube played admirable football for the hosts, which gives the soldiers confidence of building a competitive team for next season if they manage to retain their services. Coach coach Tendai Chikuni said he deployed his charges into battle with one eye on Chapungu’s next two games against Chicken Inn and FC Platinum.

“We started resting other guys towards the end of the match, we have two difficult games that are coming and it is important to manage the energy levels of these players. We are facing two teams that are fighting for the title but what I can tell you is that it will not be an easy game for both of them when we play against them. Today we introduced Davison and I am happy with his performance together with the performance of other youngsters who are doing well. We are also looking at building a team for next season,” said Chikuni. Bantu Rovers’ team manager Agent Sawu said they were happy with the progression of their young squad in the elite division.

“Bantu Rovers is a developmental side. Our aim is to expose these players to play competitively. This season there are a lot of positives we take from our time in the Premier League, we were worried about the youngsters’ exposure at this level of the game which they got. Today the goals we conceded I feel there were a bit soft and in our remaining games we target to get six points,” said Sawu.

Teams:

Chapungu: R. Mazingi, P. Marufu, R. Bota, T. Ndlovu, B. Mbavarira, C. Kwaramba, I. Nyoni (T. Chitora, 80th minute), E, Chitauro, O, Mukuradare (L, Gwerina, 68th minute), A, Tavarwisa, B, Sahondo (D, Ncube, 80th minute)

Bantu Rovers: N, Dube, F. Sibanda, L. Ncube, D. Ndlovu, N. Garayi (M. Ncube, 80th minute), T. Kumbuyani, P. Zivengwa, S. Nyahwa, N. Papius (B. Ncube. 80th minute), M. Dube, M. Chitambwe (R. Masuku. 59th minute).