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Grace Chingoma Sports Reporter

Harare City . . . . . . . . . (2) 2

ZPC Kariba . . . . . . . . . .(1) 1HARARE City quickly put behind the nightmare of their defeat by Triangle last weekend when two quick-fire goals set them up for triumph over ZPC Kariba in a Castle Lager Premiership game at Rufaro yesterday.

The victory left Sunshine Boys coach Taurai Mangwiro satisfied and eager to face Highlanders in their next assignment at Barbourfields on Sunday.

Harare City arrived at Rufaro yesterday licking the wounds of their 3-1 hiding at the hands of Trinagle but they were able to quickly erase those memories when midfielder William Manondo got an early goal in the eighth minute before Tinotenda Kadewere added another two minutes later.

The young Kadewere who has started his third game on the trot after getting some cameo appearances in the opening matches had good exchanges with Talent Chawapiwa, who also was very industrious on his flank, the whole afternoon.

ZPC Kariba who have had an inconsistent start to the season regrouped after the early onslaught by the hosts then pulled one back in the 34th minute when striker Tawanda Nyamandwe slotted into the nets.

While ZPC Kariba appeared to be on course to draw level they later fizzled out and in the second period it was City who was now causing all sorts of problems only to miss chances to increase their lead.

Mangwiro was, however, satisfied by his charges’ performance and believes they have raised their game and are slowly finding their rhythm.

“But you could see once they reduced the deficit it was always going to be difficult. But we had more clear chances and we were more dangerous than them.

“We are on the rise and we hope to continue like this. If we can go to Bulawayo and get three points we would be right on track.

“ZPC Kariba, they are a good team but you could see some of the mistakes they were now making were out of desperation.

“It is not like we played dismally against Triangle, we gave away goals on a silver platter but the overall performance was good,” Mangwiro said.

While Mangwiro has not been facing pressure, the same cannot be said of his mentor and ZPC Kariba coach Saul Chaminuka as pressure mounts on the 2014 Coach of the Year.

Last year around this time Chaminuka was unbeaten and was among the top teams but he has just managed 10 points from a possible 21.

The sight of former ZPC Kariba coach Jostein Mathuthu sitting with some ZPC Kariba executive members in the VVIP stand only adds to the speculation over Chaminuka’s future.

Mathuthu helped ZPC to get promotion into the Premiership before he was dumped by the Kariba outfit.

ZPC Kariba assistant coach Godfrey Tamirepi blamed fatigue for their loss of form.

“We give credit to Harare City for a good game unlike us we started sluggishly and we were punished. After we conceded two goals I thought we controlled the match but in the second half we failed to control the game and we were bad, losing possession.

“Fatigue is beginning to affect us as we are doing a lot of travelling. But our performance is not very bad. If you compare with last season, we have lost five points and we are on track,” he said.

Tamirepi said it would not be any easy for them in the weekend’s match as they meet log leaders Chicken Inn.

Teams:

Harare City: T. Dube, C. Dickson, T. Ndlovu, A. Guvheya, M. Nyenye, J. Jam, T. Samanja, T. Chawapiwa (T. Chimwemwe 78th minute), W. Manondo, T. Kadewere (H. Chimutimunzeve 84th minute), B. Maglasi (R. Uchena 61st minute).

ZPC Kariba: T. Zvaita, S. Sheshe (P. Tafirenyika 40th minute), D. Phiri (S. Makawa 51st minute), S. Appiah (M. Makanje 24th minute), G. Magariro, D. Dauda, T. Munyanduri, B. Mutukure, T. Nyamandwe, R. Manuvire, T. Rantokoane.