By Augustine Hwata
CAPS United ……………………………. (2) 3
FC Platinum ………………………..….. (0) 1
RAHMAN KUTSANZIRA scored two beautiful goals to power a resurgent CAPS United to sweet victory and condemn his namesake, Rahman Gumbo, to a bitter defeat at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Rahman Kutsanzira (right) eyes the ball as he charges clear of FC Platinum's Charles Sibanda at the National Sports Stadium yesterday
Kutsanzira struck a brace while Washington Pakamisa added the other goal as they helped the Green Machine roll past Gumbo’s FC Platinum in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at the giant stadium. The win saw CAPS United roaring to their biggest win of the season, but team manager Sean Connor warned his players against getting carried way after their best day in the office since the Northern Irishman’s arrival.
They have now won three games on the bounce. When the league action resumes on the weekend of 9-10 June, CAPS United will travel to Gweru for a date against Hardbody while FC Platinum will host Quelaton at Mandava.
With the way CAPS United played yesterday, they will go to the Midlands confident of victory and, for a team that struggled so much at the beginning of the season, their fans are now living in Dreamland and even dreaming of the league championship.
Yesterday, they were saying their team will relive the path travelled by Monomotapa who lost their first four league matches before emerging as champions under Norman Mapeza four years ago. Steely defender Norman Togara reduced the deficit for FC Platinum before he was expelled for receiving a second yellow card towards the end of the game.
By then CAPS United had scored all their three goals and were well and truly in the driving seat. Kutsanzira, who scored CAPS United’s first goal in open play when they beat Quelaton 1-0 for their first victory, was happy to score again yesterday.
“It is an honour for me to grab a brace and I am very happy with the performance of the team. I hope to continue playing well in the future games and I owe my good form to team work. There is commitment in the squad and that has encouraged us to work harder every game,” said Kutsanzira.
Yesterday’s win marked the first league victory by CAPS United over FC Platinum after the previous two meetings had ended in draws but, more importantly, it’s the first time that Makepekepe have scored more than once in their seven league outings this season.
Pressure had mounted on Connor after he gone for five matches without a win or even a goal from open play and their only set of full points had came through the boardroom following a walkover against Motor Action.
But CAPS United woke from their deep slumber with identical 1-0 wins lowly side Quelaton and Blue Rangers before notching the memorable win over FC Platinum yesterday.FC Platinum come into the match enjoying a fine run of three wins on the trot but came unstuck against a spirited CAPS United.
“It’s great to get our biggest win so far,” said Connor.
“I think the guys showed some disciplined performance right from the first half. In the second half, FC Platinum tried to respond but we showed the will.
“At times we were anxious to go forward and placed the ball higher than putting pressure on them. The result for today might be good but like I said before, we are looking into the bigger picture in the future.”
During his trying times, Connor had pleaded for patience from the CAPS United fans and now the Northern Irishman appears to have struck the right cords. Edmore Sibanda sent a free kick wide before Edmore Chafungamoyo directed his header directly at Tafadzwa Dube for what could have been early goals.
Clive Kawinga also directed an effort wide in the first half.
“If Edmore gets an opportunity in the right area, we will allow him to take the free kicks,” Connor said.
Connor also paid tribute to Kutsanzira after he took his season’s tally to three goals.
“Rahman is a good player but he needs to get stronger and that’s why we have a programme for him at the gym,” said Connor.
In getting his first goal, Kutsanzira received a pass from Clive Kawinga before firing a powerful low shot that beat Dube in goals for FC Platinum in the 18th minute. Pakamisa then increased the lead in the 43rd minute when he blasted home from inside the box after panic had crept into the visitors’ defence.
Togara, who had earned a yellow card for an ugly lunge on Tapiwa Khumbuyani in the 34th minute, then directed a corner kick by Ali Sadiki into the net before substitute Evans Gwekwerere engineered the third goal for CAPS United.
Gwekwerere made a strong run on the right before he squared the ball for Kawinga who in-turn laid for Kutsanzira to pull the trigger to give CAPS United a comfortable lead.
“Evans did a very good job for us. He came off the bench and created some chances for us. We managed to score from one of the moves,” said Connor.
Gumbo yesterday accepted the defeat as part of the game and felt let down by his players. “It was not really our day. From the start, the players had a wrong attitude towards the game but we will bounce back,” said Gumbo.
Gumbo said he was not sure why Togara received the second yellow card. “I do not know why he was given a red card. Maybe he said something to the referee but at the end of the day the referee has the final say,” said Gumbo. Togara got his marching orders after a foul on Kutsanzira.
Teams
CAPS United: E. Sibanda, D. Sengu, T. Kumbuyani, M. Samaneka (T. Samanja 32nd min), C. Kawinga, N. Mukumbi, E. Chafungamoyo (E. Gwekwerere 64th min), D. Walaza, R. Kutsanzira (L. Kaisa 85th min), W. Pakamisa, T. Munyanduri,
FC Platinum: T. Dube, N. Togara, J. Ngodzo, Z. Ngodzo, Q. Amin, C. Sibanda (L. Matawu 82nd min) T, Kamusoko, A. Gahadzikwa (W. Ndiweni 46th min), S. Shoko (D. Veremu37th min), A. Sadiki, M. Katsvairo
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