Zimpapers Logo

Tobias Mandoreba in HWANGE
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
CAPS United . . . . . . . . . . (0 ) 1

Hwange-born Dominic Chungwa rose from the bench to inspire his team to a crucial and much-needed victory at the Colliery as CAPS United finally remembered how to win in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.

In an evenly balanced encounter, Chungwa ended his goal drought after coming on as a replacement for defender Valentine Musarurwa in the 57th minute.

Chungwa needed 13 minutes of action on the pitch to settle matters as he pounced on a lovely cross from fellow substitute Crispen Machisi, easily tapping home from close range after the cross had eluded the entire Hwange rearguard.

The goal left the vocal green and white masses in delirium with the wild celebrations that greeted the final whistle by the visitors telling a big story of a team which was hungry for glory after enduring a seven match winless streak.

That winless streak was characterised by six draws and one defeat.

CAPS United had started the match with a lot of purpose with their outstanding player the entire afternoon Hardlife Zvirekwi unleashing a full blooded shot, which drew the best out of Hwange goalkeeper London Zulu after just nine minutes.

The coalminers only came out of their shell after the quarter hour mark as they started stringing some lovely passes and taking the game to their opponents and could have drawn first blood in the 25th minute only for leftback Munyaradzi Mungadze’s flashing header to sail inches over the bar.

The lanky defender had rose high to connect a curling Tafara Chese corner. Anchorman Collen Muleya followed up moments later with a scorching effort from the edge of the box which found Makepekepe goal minder Joram Muchambo alert.

The hosts were not done as they launched another venomous attack on the half hour mark involving Gilbert Zulu and young Innocent Mucheneka which agonisingly ended with pencil slim striker Alec Marime miscuing his left footed volley from close range.

CAPS United then seized the initiative and camped in the Hwange half and got the best chance of the opening stanza five minutes from the break when former captain Zvirekwi beat Mungadze on the right flank and unleashed a bullet which beat Zulu all systems out only to hit the right upright before being cleared to safety by the Hwange defence.

The second half started on a lively note with Hwange defender Chese embarking on a mazy run in the 62th minute before releasing a delicate cross which Mucheneka failed to connect home from a few metres out with Muchambo badly exposed.

The introduction of Machisi for Phineas Bamusi in the 66th minute added some sting in the CAPS United fire-power as the substitutes combined well and it was no surprise as they surged ahead in the 70th minute as the overworked Hwange defence buckled under incessant pressure by the visitors.

Hwange charged back after the CAPS United goal with another substitute Newman Sianchali, thrown in for the ineffective Marime in the 59th minute, leading the coalminers’ quest for an equaliser.

Sianchali, however, could not turn himself into an instant hero for the home fans as he fluffed a glorious opportunity to level matters in the 78th minute when he latched on to a fine pass by Mucheneka inside the CAPS United box only to blaze his shot way over the bar with Muchambo at his mercy.

That miss virtually sealed Hwange’s fate.

Hwange stand in head coach Mebelo Njekwa lamented lack of cohesion in his midfield department for the loss.

“The match was evenly balanced, but we could not play our normal game as the midfield did not click hence there was no supply of balls to the strike force. CAPS United took their chance and scored to leave us with a bad day in office,” said Njekwa.

But for CAPS United coach, Lloyd Chitembwe, it was an important result after the retuning Makepekepe gaffer had seen his charges draw against Buffaloes in his first game in charge last Sunday.

Chitembwe was naturally happy with the outcome.

“We are very happy with result as Hwange fought very hard for the entire match, but at the end of the day the boys did well to get these precious three points,” Chitembwe said.

Chitembwe will also be hoping that the win brings back the confidence in his side.

Teams

Hwange: L Zulu; A Chuma; G Ndlovu; D Boriwondo; C Muleya; I Mucheneka;

R Chinyengetere; M Mungadze; T Chese( F Vimisai 70th min); A Marime(N

Sianchali 59th min); G Zulu

CAPS United: J Muchambo; H Zvirekwi; J Jangano(M Mweya 42th min); C Muzambwa;

S Makatuka; D Mukandi; M Muchenje; J Ngodzo; V Musarurwa(D Chungwa 57th min);

P Bamusi(C Machisi 66th min); L Tsipa.