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Saul Chaminuka

Thupeyo Muleya in BEITBRIDGE
Border Strikers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 (1)
Harare City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
BASEMENT club Border Strikers pulled one of the surprise results of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Week 12 fixtures when they upstaged fancied Harare City at Dulivhadzimu yesterday to secure their second win of the season. The Beitbridge-based outfit, who were fast becoming a punching bag in the top-flight were all smiles when they overcame the Sunshine Boys in their first match since sacking coach Saul Chaminuka last week.

It took the hosts 15 minutes to settle their nerves via a goal off a header from William Nyoni. Assistant coach Never Malunga has been installed as the caretaker gaffer and he could not have asked for a better start than confidence boosting home win with Nyoni heading home from a cross by Hugh Chikosha.

Their only win in the league had been their triumph over equally struggling Tsholotsho. Although the border town had been rocked by violence in the run up to the weekend, yesterday’s game, which attracted a capacity crowd was played in a peaceful environment, albeit under heavy anti-riot police presence.

Two days before the match the town had become chaotic with hooligans barricading roads with stones, looting shops and burning state properties in protest against the introduction of new import laws.

But Vavheneki as the team is affectionately known by its legion of fans provided their supporters with something to smile about away from the mayhem. The hosts made their intentions of collecting maximum points clear when their strike force led by Nyoni and Chikosha kept knocking on Harare City’s goal area.

It did not take long however, before they were rewarded for their early probing with their two strikers combining to produce what proved the winner.

Despite the visitors trying to rally back Border Strikers hung on to their early lead until the final whistle to hand Moses Chunga his second successive defeat since he took over as Harare City coach. Chunga who had presided over two wins since replacing Taurai Mangwiro saw his team suffer a reverse against Dynamos at Rufaro before they came back empty-handed from their long trip to Beitbridge yesterday.

Harare City tried to level matters through veteran striker Martini Vengesai but he constantly found hard time trying to get past Border Strikers skipper Mike Variso. The visitors upped their game in the second half but they also found Border Strikers goalkeeper Talent Sunday in a no-nonsense mood with the goal-minder making a number of good saves.