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Tendai Chikuni

Mukudzei Chingwere Midlands Bureau
CHAPUNGU believe the outcome of their replay against Dynamos could have been different if the match had been played in June and had justice not been delayed.Before yesterday’s replay, representatives from the Premier Soccer League, match officials and the two clubs had a meeting in Gweru where they agreed to go ahead with the game under the terms and conditions of the league’s governing board.

But the odds were against the army side before the resumption of the match as they needed to overturn a four-goal deficit in 34 minutes with a number of limping players in their arsenal. The match proved to be a farce with the hosts fielding 10 players from the onset yesterday.

Four of their players — Ian Nyoni, Maxwell Mavhuto, Blessing Zabula and Raymond Sibanda — were injured, the duo of Blessing Zabula and Sibanda were risked but Nyoni and Mavhuto failed to make it.

Before the match was brought to a halt in June Chapungu used two substitutes and Brighton Mugoni came in to replace Mavhuto while they couldn’t get a replacement for Nyoni as per the terms of the match. Chapungu coach Tendai Chikuni said his task of overturning the deficit was always going to be an impossible one.

“The game was decided in June and it was difficult for us to overturn the deficit. But in a balanced contest yes it is possible to score four goals in 30 minutes or even more goals,’’ said Chikuni. “But today we did not select our best available team to play.

“Two of our players played while injured and we also played with ten players. “In June, if the match had continued, you never know with football but a chance was there to come back into the game.”