CAPS United crash in first game

By Augustine Hwata

Harare City……………….(0) 1

CAPS United………………….0

CAPS United caretaker coach Brenna Msiska was forced to make last-minute changes to his starting line-up, following a mix-up in players’ licences, and then saw his charges crash to a demoralising defeat on the opening day of the Castle Lager Premiership match against Harare City at Rufaro yesterday.

The former CAPS United goalkeeper had initially included former Dynamos skipper George Magariro and midfielder Tendai Samanja on his first XI but was forced to draft in Blessing Zabula and David Rediyoni after an administrative botch-up.

Harare City’s Crispen Dickson headed in the priceless goal in the 51st minute when connected a ball swung from a corner kick, whipped from the right by Talent Chawapihwa, on the blind side.

CAPS United goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube had done well to thwart a free header by William Munondo, which he parried for a corner kick from close range with a spectacular save, and from the resultant set-piece, former Blue Rangers player Dickson was left unattended to plant a low header into the near-post.

Harare giants CAPS United tried to come back into the game when Moses Muchenje and substitute Takudzwa Mahori made some penetrating runs into the Harare City half but failed to finish off the moves.

However, the Green Machine’s hopes for an equaliser were deflated when Muchenje was expelled from the match in the 80th minute, giving Harare City the numerical advantage.

Muchenje become the first player in the Premiership this year to be expelled from a match after Midlands referee Thomas Masaa first showed the former Gunners man a yellow card for dissent when he had protested over a foul.

After being cautioned with the yellow card, Muchenje is understood to have used foul language towards the referee and was shown red, leaving the team demoralised.

But CAPS United could have won the match for themselves in the first half when they dominated and forced their former goalkeeper Muzondiwa Gonese to make a couple of saves for Harare City.

The Green Machine, who were eager to impress their fans after failing to win the NetOne Charity Shield in Zvishavane early this month, appeared confident on the ball in the early stages and could have taken the lead when Leonard Fiyado asked the Harare City defence some questions and then spotted Rediyoni who scooped his effort over the bar from close range in the 11th minute.

Rediyoni, who was just out of the game, maybe after being called as a replacement for Samanja at the last minute, wasted another opportunity in the 13th minute when he got to the end of a fine cross by Rahman Kutsanzira but then headed off the mark.

In the 24th minute Fiyado tried to hoodwink Gonese from inside the box following an impressive build-up with veteran striker Tawanda Nyamandwe while, at the other end, Harare City defender Munyaradzi Dironyenye curled in a free-kick that was saved by Dube.

CAPS United finally managed to bring on Samanja in the 48th minute, after his papers had been regularised, but it was Harare City who then found the target from the corner kick.

Msiska said his game plan was thrown in disarray following an administrative boob that saw the licences for Magariro and Samanja missing during inspection.

“I do not really know what happened with the licences for the players because we could not get them before the match yet I had intended to use these guys,” said Msiska.

“Zifa make the players’ IDs and then say they have withheld the licences for the players at the last minute. Magariro and Samanja could not get licences but we had played with the same players during the Charity Shield. Samanja’s licence only arrived at half-time.”

Msiska will also be disappointed by the performance of his skipper, Tapiwa Khumbuyani, who did not do justice the possession that he got while Kutsanzira looks so out of form it’s hard to justify his continued inclusion in the first XI.

Despite the defeat, Msiska was impressed by his team’s performance in their first league game of the season and believes the future is bright.

“Overally, I was impressed by the performance in the first half although we could not convert the chances. Now this game is water under the bridge and we have to focus on the next game against Motor Action,” said Msiska.

“We appeal to the fans for patience and hope to get a top four finish by the end of the season.”

While Msiska was bemoaning his game plan that went up in smoke, Harare City coach Bigboy Mawiwi was pleased to continue with their unbeaten run against the Harare giants in the league. Last year Crybet Muvuti struck the solitary goal in the first meeting before the reverse fixture ended in a 0-0 draw at Rufaro.

“David Kutyauripo was injured so was Willard Kalongonda and we could not field Silas for a long time because was with the national team,” said Mawiwi.

“But we are happy because it appears we have got depth and I am more pleased with the character we have because it was not easy. Brenna Msiska is an experienced coach but I think we gained confidence as the game progressed.

“In the second half we had quite couple of good crosses and they were effective as we tried some combinations but Nathan Ziwini did not have a good game today because we had shifted him from the usual left attack.”

Harare City manager Pardon Chivasa said they had a scrappy game but he is confident that they will hold their own against Highlanders. “This is going to gives us some confidence before we go to Bulawayo where we had some problems last season,” said Chivasa.

Teams

Harare City: M. Gonese, M. Dironyeynye, T. Chioreso, C. Dickson, E. Tapera, N. Ziwini (R. Uchena 72nd min), T. Nguwodzawo T. Chawapiwha, (S. Songani 84th min) W. Munondo, J. James, G. Nguwondzawo (M. Vengesayi 60th min),

CAPS United: T. Dube, T. Kumbuyani, A. Chivheya, B. Zabula, R. Pfumbidzai, D. Rediyoni (T. Samanja 48th min), M. Muchenje, R. Kutsanzira, (T. Mahori 61st min), H. Zvirekwi, T. Nyamandwe(D. Chungwa 70th min), L. Fiyado