CAPS United, FC Platinum explode

FC Platinum rallied back to victory at their beloved Mandava Stadium to extend their stay at the top of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League and keep ahead of the fierce chasing pack that now includes four-time champions CAPS United, who bagged their biggest win of the season, in matches spread across the country yesterday.

Makepekepe goal machine Dominic Chungwa netted the first hat-trick of the season, joining FC Platinum striker Nelson Maziwisa at the top of the scorers’ chart with five goals.

Elsewhere, Buffaloes maintained their surprise push for reckoning when they made it four wins out of their last four league outings by brushing off Motor Action at “Callies’’ while How Mine’s first visit to the capital city earned them a point off Harare City.

Paul Mundandi reports from Zvishavane that FC Platinum produced a spirited performance in the second half that not only showed their seriousness in the championship race but also proved that they have the required depth in their squad as they missed the services of chief striker Nelson Maziwisa and key defender Kelvin Moyo, who are with the Warriors in Zambia this afternoon.

Regular scorer Ali Sadiki, team talisman Charles Sibanda and enterprising midfielder Joel Ngodzo got the goals that earned a 3-0 victory over Triangle.

Sadiki opened the account in the 71st minute when Bulawayo-based referee Allan Bhasvi awarded the visitors an indirect free kick in the box after Triangle goalkeeper Chipula took more than the stipulated six seconds to release the ball.

Ngodzo, who played the full 90 minutes for the first time, had a touch on the free kick before Sadiki sent a curling shot with his left foot that left Chipula standing at akimbo.

Former Motor Action hitman Sibanda increased Triangle’s woes when he slammed the ball in the nets six minutes later.

Sadiki powered a shot in the box and Chipula parried it back into play and with Triangle defenders hesitant to clear, Sibanda took a crack at goal, silencing the small band of Triangle fans that had travelled to Zvishavane to cheer on their team.

Ngodzo ended the match as a contest when he put the final nail in the coffin of the Gishon “Gizha” Ntini-coached side. Donald Ngoma, who had a good performance, left his markers for dead on the right and sent a pass to Ngodzo, who fired a volley that Chipula never saw but only managed to retrieve the ball from the nets.

The last chance for the visitors to get a face-saver came a minute from time when former Blue Ribbon and Hwange striker Daniel Kamunhenga was sent through by teammate Lameck Nhamo.

But with goalkeeper Petros Mhari outdrawn, Kamunhenga shot tamely only to see FC Platinum captain Daniel Veremu clear his effort from the line for a corner kick.

Ntini blasted the referee for poor officiating.

“The game was balanced, but I was not happy with the referee’s decisions. We did everything right, even though I was missing three players through injury,” groaned Ntini.

The FC Platinum bench was ecstatic after the final whistle.

Fatima Bulla reports that CAPS United ran riot with a four-goal rout in which young turk Dominic Chungwa stole the limelight with a hat-trick that saw Black Mambas humiliated 4-1 before a big crowd at Gwanzura.

In addition to a standing ovation from the Green Machine fans before and after the match, the result was a warm reception to coach Taurai Mangwiro in his first home match since returning to take charge after the short-lived Asiagate ban.

But the icing on the cake was Chungwa, who grabbed three goals in the 2nd, 22nd and 64th minutes with Leonard Fiyado’s 48th-minute strike adding on to the damage for the police side.

Honey Chimutimunzeve netted a face-saver for Warumwa Warumwa in the 56th minute when referee Batsirayi Muchenje awarded a penalty to the visitors after an infringement on Convenience Hungwe inside the box.

Football fans at Gwanzura had only to wait two minutes after kick-off for the first goal as Chungwa tapped the ball in the net after a fine cross from an advancing Fiyado to leave goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga a beaten man.

With national team players Hardlife Zvirekwi and Tawanda Nyamandwe evidently not missed on the day, Chungwa turned clinical finisher by heading home the second goal to leave his side comfortable at the break.

Mambas’ woes were worsened only three minutes after the break after a terrific Chungwa capitalised on a blunder by Mateyaunga, who had been trying to locate his captain Hungwe, and set up Fiyado — who without a second thought tapped home for the third goal.

As miscommunication clearly began taking its toll on the Warumwa Warumwa camp, Chungwa buried Black Mambas for good by connecting into a disjointed net.

In the 65th minute Chimutimunzeve was left to curse his gods when he powered in a shot about 30 yards from Dube’s goal but the bar denied him what had promised to be a thunder strike.

It was deserving, however, for CAPS United — who were using their wings effectively through Tapiwa Kumbuyani and Ronald Pfumbidzai though the boys in Green and White did not get as much goals to correspond their efforts.

Tafadzwa Dube in goal for CAPS United, came good, making crucial saves while his ball distribution between the centre-backs was commendable.

George Magariro, Arnold Chivheya and Tendai Samanja stamped their authority in denying Warumwa Warumwa breathing space while Pfumbidzai remained a thorn in the flesh of the Green Machine’s opponents with Takudzwa Mahori enjoying his day in the office.

CAPS United assistant coach Brenna Msiska applauded the team spirit.

“Black Mambas played well but for us, as we earlier said, we needed just five or so games to gel as a team. Also the coming back of Taurai Mangwiro has strengthened our team as you can see from the good results.’’

His opposite number, Martin Bonongwe, said the result was not reflective of how they played.

“I think at the end of the day the result was cruel as it did not give an impression of the entire game. This setback was deemed to happen at one moment or another and it happened today,” Bonongwe said.

Langton Nyakwenda reports that Mutare side Buffaloes shot to third place after dispatching Motor Action 2-1 in a lukewarm encounter at Motor Action Sports Club. Substitute striker Admire Dzumbunu was the hero for the army side, as he fired home the winner to ensure the soldiers maintain a purple patch that has seen them winning all their April fixtures.

Saul Chaminuka’s men displayed a commendable fighting spirit as they came from behind to stun the hosts in front of a paltry crowd, but it was Motor Action that went to the breather in the driving seat courtesy of a strike by the menacing Misheck Mburayi, who rose above the Buffaloes defence to nod home an inviting cross from Congolese import Yves Ebabali in the 42nd minute.

A half-time pep talk seemed to have galvanised the Buffaloes’ striking duo of Steven Sibanda and Jacob Muzokomba, who began asking the Motor Action defence numerous questions as soon as the second stanza kicked off.

Sibanda, formerly with newly promoted side How Mine, found the equaliser from an acute angle after being set free in the box by the forceful Muzokomba nine minutes after the restart.

The Motor Action central defence of Blessing Sande and Charles Mutero was caught in sixes and sevens while the other blame could be apportioned to veteran keeper Marlon Jani for failing to close his near post.

The gangling Dzumbunu then turned into an instant hero when he fired home the winner in the 67th minute after he had come as a second-half substitute for the ineffective dreadlocked left winger, Roy Mwenga.

Motor Action’s out-of-sorts left back Jonathan Chitereki gifted Buffaloes’ substitute Liberty Chakoroma time to control the ball and pick an onrushing Dzumbunu, whose determined header was too much for Jani.

Buoyed by their veteran midfielder Clemence Matawu, whose clever touches were clear evidence of his European football exposure, the Mighty Bulls began to carve open the Buffaloes defence and could have equalised in the 72nd minute but rookie substitute Innocent Kutsanzira miscued a sitter with the goal line less than a metre away from him.

The Mighty Bulls stand-in coach, David George, admitted the pastures were not so green for his Bulls while his opposite number, Chaminuka, promised more fireworks from his soldiers.

“We have met our target for April, which was to win all the four games and are now back on course for our ultimate aim of ruffling feathers at the top end of the log table,” said Chaminuka.

Ishemunyoro Chingwere writes that Ocean Mpofu cancelled out Martin Vengesayi’s opener in the first half as Premiership debutants How Mine snatched a point away to Harare City at Rufaro.

The visitors, buoyed by six Premiership veterans in their starting line-up, showed no respect for the fancied Sunshine Boys and deservedly went back to Bulawayo with a point in the bag.

There was nothing to prevent the Bigboy Mawiwi-coached side from taking the lead as former Dynamos speedy forward Vengesayi connected with a powerful shot from a Ronald Maketo cross that gave Pedzisai Gumiremhete, in goal for the miners, no chance.

How Mine would, however, not be bullied into submission and were back on level matters in the 16th minute with Mpofu rising above City defenders to head in a Thandazani Ndlovu corner kick.

After the breather both sides continued the search for a winner but precision in front of goal was their common Achilles’ heel.

City, whose Bhamusi was by far the best player of the afternoon, stepped a gear up in the 65th minute when Mawiwi introduced the lively Nathan Ziwini for William Manondo. After the match Mawiwi moaned the absence of five of his key players as the major drawback for his side.

“We were missing five of our regulars; two of which are on national duty and that really worked against us as it affected our rhythm.

“All the same a draw is not a bad result but we have to regroup and work on our shortcomings, especially in the strike-force,” said Mawiwi. His opposite number, Philani Mabhena, was happy for the point he got.

“We are very happy with the result. We knew they are a very good side and our strategy was to frustrate them and we did just that. If we continue this way I have no doubt we will survive the chop,” said Mabhena.