By Grace Chingoma
CAPS United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Dongo Sawmill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
CAPS United coach Mark Mathe believes the best attacking combination at the club is that of his misfiring strikers Dominic Chungwa and Leonard Tsipa.
He also believes that with time, the team will get it right as they once again were left on a soul searching trip following another draw in a Castle Lager Premiership soccer match against bottom-placed Dongo Sawmill at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
The Harare side on Thursday were held to a 1-1 draw by second from bottom side Tsholotsho at the same venue after they wasted numerous chances and it was the same script yesterday.
Chungwa, who missed a few chances in the opening period, was brought out after the half hour mark and replaced by Equatorial Guinea forward Antonio Fugo who was making his debut appearance for CAPS United.
The expatriate, who is a student in the country, did not disappoint and had a decent match in which he could have even scored a goal in either half.
But Mathe was left disappointed and believes it is not poor tactics that are costing the team but just failure to be clinical in the final third.
“There is a certain aspect that you need to look at in a game. Right now the best attacking combination in the land from what I see, this is my opinion, this is not a national opinion, there is Dominic Chungwa, there is Leonard Tsipa, there is Knox Mutizwa, there is Obadiah Tarumbwa, there is Takesure Chinyama and there is Roderick Mutuma.
“If you look rather in the land, this is my opinion, so we needed to see some continuity, hoping that the goals would come. But as soon as we saw that the hangover is still there we said ‘let’s make an early change’ and we still kept creating those chances but unfortunately the goals didn’t come.
“The chances that we miss, in all fairness, are very simple. Look at the one on one situations that we get and the balls we get in the box, they are simple tap ins.
“I don’t like to believe that the tactics are bad, the tactics are okay it is just that we need to spruce up on the personnel in terms of delivering goals,” Mathe said.
The former Highlanders gaffer appealed for patience and said drastic measure would cost the team further.
“The goals are just not coming so I think it is a question of time. If we lose our head with so many games to go we will sink. Now we want to keep our head above the water and keep swimming but yes, we are disappointed with the result, we could have won today.
“The only pressure that I am feeling is that I am doing my work properly but I am not getting the results. To be fair, everyone is observing, our fans are watching and our management is watching.
“Yes, as a coach I have to take the flak, we should be winning and we are not. We still need to swim, we don’t need to sink.
“The pressure that I am getting is we are doing our homework well but we have not been fortunate enough in these games.
“We have not been clinical enough and we just need to keep on working and pray that the goals come sooner than later.
“We still hope for a top four finish but it is how quickly we will start scoring so we are still on track. We are doing everything correct and we are going through a lean spell. We have to keep working and psyche up the players and we will come right. I don’t like to believe that the tactics are wrong,” Mathe said.
Dongo Sawmill coach Shadreck Mugurasave said his charges will continue to work hard as they believe they can survive relegation.
“We created our chances and failed to convert but away from home it’s a fair result, I can’t complain. I cannot panic at the moment and we can still make it.
“It was a 50-50 match but we were much better than CAPS United in terms of going forward they failed to contain our strikers.
“We can survive. We are going to work hard, this game will help us survive as a point away from home will make the boys want to do more to survive,” he said. The Herald
Teams
CAPS United: J. Muchambo, H. Zvirekwi, M. Mwenya, C. Munzabwa, S. Makatuka, M. Muchenje, J. Ngodzo (G. Mangani 64th minute), P. Bamusi, T. Mahori (T. Muskwe 61st minute), D. Chungwa (A. Fugo 34th minute), L. Tsipa.
Dongo Sawmill: F. Pfumojena, T. Mapungwana, K. Katandika, K. Mangondo, K. Chideu, D. Chitsanzira, N. Tigere, L. Jesi (B. Dzumbunu 63rd minute), P. Madhazi, M. Tapatapa.
