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Tadious Manyepo

Sports Reporter

REIGNING Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Goalkeeper of the Year Nelson Chadya has issued a passionate apology to his team after enduring a bad day in the office for win-less Ngezi Platinum Stars last Friday.

Chadya was mainly culpable when Herentals scored their third goal in a 3-3 thriller at Baobab on Good Friday.

The result meant both teams remained win-less in the league after four match-days.

The match could have gone either way though, and at the end both Ngezi Platinum coach Takesure Chiragwi and his Herentals counterpart Kumbirai Mutuwekuziva admitted a share of the spoils was fair, in a way.

Ngezi Platinum have drawn all their four opening matches while Herentals have lost once and drawn three as the two are building an early reputation as draw specialists.

But they both dished out top-notch performances which were capped with top-of-the-shelf goals.

It was Ngezi Platinum who appeared to seize control of proceedings as they took a 2-0 lead to the break.

But a tactical astuteness on the part of Mutuwekuziva saw The Students overturning that deficit and even surged ahead with 14 minutes before the final whistle.

While Chadya had an impressive afternoon thwarting raids from double scorer Tafadzwa Jim and Blessing Majarira, he made a calamitous mistake that gifted Herentals with their third goal.

The visitors had camped in the Ngezi Platinum half and in one of the forays through the right channel, Prince Chama delivered a delicate cross towards Chadya’s goal. The Warriors shot-stopper, almost beaten by pace parried the ball back into the field from the near post instead of punching it out.

Jim, who was lurking in the box, drove a low shot across the face of goal and Ngezi Platinum defender Gareth Madhake, in a desperate bid to clear the lines, turned it in for Herentals’ third of the afternoon.

Marlon Mushonga would drill home the equaliser to ensure a share of the spoils towards the end of the match.

Chadya, who rarely makes blunders, admitted the team had a bad day in the office.

“It was a very good game of football. Both teams wanted to play and it was one of the best matches we have played in recent years.

“It’s very unfortunate, we failed to take the maximum points,” said Chadya.

“We had the chance to win especially after we led with two goals.

“But Herentals came from the break with an improved strategy and we let go of our lead.

“I made the wrong decision.

“And the third goal we conceded, well, I would like to apologise to my teammates and the whole Ngezi Platinum Stars institution.

“We were under siege and I misjudged that cross. I should have taken it out . . . ”

With four points out of a possible 12, coach Chiragwi is frustrated but he reckons he has picked some positives going forward.

Chiragwi was appointed on a substantive basis early this year after he did well as a caretaker coach following the sacking of Benjani Mwaruwari last year.

“The good thing about my team now is that we are scoring.

“We have not been getting into those areas and scoring goals. So I am happy we have addressed that and I am looking forward to start collecting the maximum points going forward,” said Chiragwi.

“We have failed to win any of our opening four games but we haven’t lost any of those as well.

“So we have to address our flaws and start winning games.”Ngezi Platinum have so far drawn against Bulawayo Chiefs (1-1), CAPS United (0-0), Triangle (0-0) and Herentals (3-3).