Bulls win relegation battle

By Makomborero Mutimukulu

Motor Action…..(1) 4 Highway…..(0) 0

MOTOR ACTION took a giant step towards safety when they pummelled the life out of Highway in a one-sided CBZ Premiership affair at their sports club yesterday.

A Charles Sibanda brace and strikes from the dreadlocked pair of Bekhi Ncube and Edward Tembo carried the day for Joey Antipas’ men.

Yesterday’s win saw Motor Action taking their points tally to 33 while Highway, whose two remaining matches are a home tie to already-relegated Black Rhinos and an away trip to Bantu Rovers, remained stuck on 30.

Highway looked a caricature of the side that thumped Eagles with the same scoreline in midweek with Motor Action racing into a 90-second lead courtesy of Sibanda’s exquisite strike. The Mighty Bulls striker latched on to a miscued clearance by Highway skipper Samuel Chitsamba before powering his way into the box.

And with Highway goalkeeper Edmond Chimhini coming out to narrow the angle, Sibanda unleashed a rising shot that oozed with class until the moment it rammed into the nets. Ncube, the former Zimbabwe Saints and Dynamos man, ought to have doubled his side’s lead on three minutes but he failed to connect in front of an open goal.

Highway were shocking.

And for a moment coach Shepherd Muradzikwa contemplated making an early first half double substitution. However, Highway briefly came to life with Laison Ntalika doing all he could to orchestrate attacks down the left channel.

But the Mutare side’s revival turned out to be a flash in the pan as Tembo, playing in an unfamiliar central midfield role, began to come out of his shell.

Sibanda came close to claiming his brace on 29 minutes but his low shot, hit on the run, crashed against the upright before a disappointing Louis Matawu failed to latch on to the rebound.

A combination of wayward shooting by the Mighty Bulls, strokes of luck and good saves from Chimhini saw Highway going into the breather just a goal behind. However, it took only 11 minutes of the second half for Muradzikwa’s charges to fall further behind when Sibanda, with the aid of a deflection, beat a drawn-out Chimhini.

Ncube then made it 3-0 on 68 minutes, doing justice to a smooth-flowing move that culminated in the impressive Tembo teeing him up just inside the box. Having played a blinder all afternoon Tembo joined in the fun with just seven minutes remaining, curling the ball past a stranded Chimhini.

Referee Burzil Makoni’s final whistle triggered wild celebrations by the Mighty Bulls owners Eric Rosen and his wife Liz. But Antipas, the man who has breathed life into a Mighty Bulls outfit that looked destined for relegation after a series of uninspiring draws, was indifferent.

“We played well today and were full value for the three points. However, there is still a lot of work ahead of us and we need to concentrate on that,” said the Warriors assistant coach.

Teams

Motor Action: M. Jani, E. Tembo, I. Changweya, S. Milanzi, L. Matawu (B. Chikaka, 45mins), N. Njelele, T. Ndhlovu, B. Ncube (M. Longwe, 84mins), I. Masame, E. Perezo (D. Chakupe, 84mins).

Highway: E. Chimhini, S. Chitsamba, A. Mambodzi, J. Zembe, P. Matizanadzo, S. Sibanda (T. Mapani, 60mins), M. Dumbura, L. Ntalika, C. Mwanza (T. Makukutu, 53mins), T. Mpungu (W. Tembani, 68mins).