By Godknows Matarutse
CAPS United ……………………………………………(0) 1
Shooting Stars ………………………………………………0
Shooting Stars kissed goodbye to Premiership football after they went down to CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium yesterday. Substitute Clive Kawinga scored the only goal of the match after connecting a cross from the impressive Tapiwa Khumbuyani in the 70th minute in a match which had little to write about as both teams failed to play purposeful football.
Going into the match, Shooting Stars needed a victory to keep their chances of surviving relegation alive but they failed to repeat their midweek feat that saw them beat Blue Ribbon 2-0. The Wild Boys have now joined Kiglon and Zimbabwe Saints, who have already been relegated. The match started at a slow pace but it was the Wild Boys who settled down first and exposed CAPS, especially in midfield where Elliot Matsika played well.
CAPS were forced into making first-half substitutes, bringing in Charles Chiutsa and Clive Kawinga in place of David Rediyoni and Washington Pakamisa in 36th and 41st minute. The first half ended balanced, but it lacked goalmouth action except for CAPS leftback Asani Nhongo’s effort which hit the cross bar and went out in the 44th minute.
CAPS came back a rejuvenated side in the second half, playing some meaningful football and it was a matter of time before they hit back of the net. Shooting Stars’ Tigere Muparaganda could have equalised in the 90th minute but failed to connect a cross from James Chitereki.
Stars coach Tonderai Marume blamed his team’s lack of precision, especially in the first half, but vowed to bring back the team in the top flight following their relegation yesterday.
“That’s the nature of the game, if you dominate and fail to score you are likely to be punished. We dominated for the better part of the game in the first half and missed some chances that came our way.
“We are now relegated but that’s not the end of the world. We have to soldier on and make sure we bring the team back into the top flight again”, said Marume.
CAPS assistant coach Joel Lupahla praised his charges for the win. “We are happy with the three points. We started slowly in the first half but we told the boys to up their game at half-time and they snatched a win.
“We were trying to give other players a chance as we are now looking forward to next season, maybe that’s what affected our rhythm in the first half,” Lupahla said.
Meanwhile, Farai Jere, who was reportedly to have parted ways with the CAPS United last week, found himself a victim of some of the side’s fans who sang mocking songs about him as he was seated in the VIP stand.
Teams
CAPS United:
T. Munyanduri, T. Kumbuyani, I. Chiwara, A. Nhongo, D. Sengu, D. Rediyoni(C. Chiutsa 36th minute), T. Samanja, P. Tafirenyika, D. Walaza, E. Gwekwerere,W. Pakamisa(C. Kawinga 41st minute).
Shooting Stars:
G. Brown, T. Muzunze, W. Chingodza, F. Kanda, J. Chitereki, M. Muneri, T. Sambo, T. Muparaganda, E. Matsika(A. Gahadzikwa 65th minute), L. Banda (M. Mupera 45th minute), C. Mutero.
