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Taurai Mangwiro

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
CAPS United………..(1)1
Bantu Rovers…………..0CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro says his team needs to be more ruthless in front of goal after his charges missed some good chances in their Castle Lager Premiership victory over Bantu Rovers at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.

Dominic Chungwa gave the Green Machine maximum points when he beat goalkeeper Brighton Chipula inside the box after receiving a cross from Hardlife Zvirekwi, who had a good day in the office operating from the right wing.

Makepekepe could have stretched  their lead following the 10th minute goal as they created some good opportunities before the visitors took the game back to their hosts with a dogged resilience.

Leonard Fiyado who partnered Chungwa upfront yesterday could have at least got his name on the scoresheet before he was substituted on the hour mark but his finishing was disappointing.

His replacement, Ishmael Thindwa, was denied by the crossbar when he nodded from a throw in by Zvirekwi moments after coming on and was again shut out by substitute goalkeeper Takunda Mutanga from close range with four minutes remaining.

The victory nonetheless was welcome relief to Makepekepe who suffered defeat during the midweek at How Mine. The Harare giants are crying for consistency as they appear to be winning at home while struggling on the road. Their decision to return to the National Sports Stadium appears to be paying dividends as they have now won all their three games at the giants stadium.

But their poor conversion, however, is still a cause for concern to their coach.

“We badly needed points. I am happy we got them. We always said we would want to see the team scoring three or four goals but we missed a glut of clear chances.

“But the good thing is that we are getting there, we are creating chances and one of these days we will be able to get an avalanche of goals. That’s how I would want to look at it,” said Mangwiro.

Chungwa gave the Green Machine a good head start with a powerful grounder when he controlled the ball inside the box and beat goalkeeper Chipula at the near post.

Chipula, who was later substituted by coach Methembe Ndlovu in the first half, could have done better to stop the goal and was also guilty of goalkeeping errors which could have cost his side more.

CAPS United players though failed to take advantage. Makepekepe upped their tempo soon after getting their goal and Malawian winger Gerald Phiri twice whipped in good crosses which flew across face of goal with no takers.

Bantu Rovers made sure that CAPS United will not get the points easy despite falling to an early setback and it was unfortunate their fighting spirit was not rewarded. They frequented the hosts goal area and they could have pulled one back in the 26th minute when Emberton Tshuma delivered a long throw in into the box which almost deceived Makepekepe goalkeeper Joram Muchambo.

However, youthful forward Tafadzwa Kutinyu misdirected his shot wide after latching onto the loose ball that was punched back into play by the veteran goalminder. Bantu Rover coach Ndlovu said he felt they could have done better but rued that they had a bad day after slumping to their sixth defeat in nine outings. The side has nine points though.

“We have been crying about referees this season but this was not one of those days. We are very happy with the officiating (by Norman Matemera). It wasn’t our day. We say congratulations to the winning team. We have no complaints also with the efforts by our guys. They gave everything but it just wasn’t our day,” said Ndlovu

“When we conceded the first goal to be honest CAPS United could have got one or two more but after that I thought we regrouped. We calmed down and played the way we wanted to play. I don’t want to blame our players because they gave it everything. It just wasn’t our day. They scored and we didn’t. That’s where we fell short,” Ndlovu said.
TEAMS:

CAPS United: B. Muchambo, D. Mukandi, R. Pfumbidzai, D. Chipala, S. Makatuka, T. Samanja, M. Muchenje, G. Phiri (A. Nhongo, 51st minute), H. Zvirekwi, L. Fiyado (I. Thindwa, 60th minute), D. Chungwa (M. Mwanza, 90th minute)

Bantu Rovers:  B. Chipula (T. Mutanga, 37th minute), Z. Ngodzo, E. Tshuma, M. Mlangeni, T. Ngwena, O. Tarumbwa, T. Kutinyu, F. Ncube, J. Museve, N. Masuku, S. Dube (P. Mpofu, 75th minute)