Shabanie Mine stun Caps United

Sports — By on May 27, 2010 4:36 am

By Saul Mundandi

FORMER Highlanders striker Tarisai Rukanda rose from the bench to grab a sucker punch that helped Premiership returnees Shabanie Mine upstage CAPS United at Maglas yesterday. CAPS United arrived in Zvishavane high on confidence and eager to give their coach Lloyd Chitembwe a victorious return to the asbestos mining town. But Rukanda and Shabanie had other ideas and they ensured it would be a nightmarish return to Maglas for Chitembwe.

Shabanie Mine…………………………………………………(0) 1

CAPS United…………………………………………………….(0) 0

The CAPS United coach took charge of Shabanie when they were still in Division One. Rukanda, who was deemed excess baggage at Bosso, was introduced in the 80th minute for Michael Mageja and was just four minutes on the pitch when he struck the winner.

A solo run on the right flank by Caleb Masocha saw him slicing a perfect pass that Rukanda slotted past the CAPS United big goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda who otherwise had a brilliant afternoon.

CAPS United, who had the better of the exchanges, could have taken the lead as early as the seventh minute when Marvel Samaneka broke loose and with goalkeeper Roy Mazingi a beaten man, saw his effort grazing the crossbar. With just 17 minutes of play Nyasha Mushekwi fired warning shots when he powered a right footer that Mazingi parried out for a corner.

It was also a match that left the country’s top marksman Mushekwi a disappointed man after trying all the tricks in the book to score past Mazingi. But the Warriors forward either directed his efforts wide or saw the goalkeeper emerge as a stumbling block. Mushekwi’s strike partner Leonard Tsipa also had his effort in the box saved by Mazingi in the 22nd minute after a pass from Oscar Machapa.

Shabanie then came on a counter-raid in the 29th minute when Artwell Nyoni, who has scored two goals for the miners, exchanged passes with Masocha before he let go a screamer that Sibanda punched for a corner. Mushekwi was then allowed a free header in the 75th minute from a Samaneka cross but he directed his effort over the bar.

CAPS United tried as hard as they could to find an equaliser with Douglas Walaza, Method Mwanjali, Lionel Mtizwa and Gilbert Mapemba playing their hearts out but the visitors just could not find a breakthrough. Makepekepe also lost 2-0 on their last visit to Maglas in 2006. Shabanie also had the pair of Tafadzwa Mombeshora or Boniface Dimanji in fine form. It is also a second big win for Shabanie after they edged Highlanders by the same margin at the same venue.

CAPS United had been playing well in their last two games and a lot was expected from the seasoned campaigners. But unassuming Shabanie coach John Phiri has been slowly rebuilding the miners. At the final whistle, CAPS United team manager Wilson Mutekede fumed at Bulawayo referee Mlindile Ndebele whom he accused of robbing the Harare side of at least a share of the spoils.

“Our soccer will never go anywhere with this type of refereeing. It is very disappointing. It happened in Nigeria but when the team came here we beat them and that is why Shabanie suffered an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Motor Action,” he said

John Phiri said he was happy with the win. “I am happy for my boys and beating a team with five players in the national team is good news. What it means is also my players should be in the national team. I feel great win the win,” said Phiri.

Teams:

Shabanie Mine: R. Mazingi, S. Shoko, F. Santiago, B. Dimanji, S. Muchabayiwa, T. Mombeshora, J. Chisunga, P. Mudena, A. Nyoni, C. Masocha, M. Mageja (T. Rukanda 80th minute),

CAPS United: E. Sibanda, D. Walaza, C. Denias, O. Machapa (A. Kwame, 50th minute, G. Mapemba, N. Mukumbi, N. Mushekwi, L. Mtizwa, M. Mwanjali, M. Samaneka, L. Tsipa (E. Chafungamoyo, 60th minute).

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