CAPS United share the spoils with Hwange

By Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange

Hwange …………………………… 0
CAPS United ……………………. 0

Hosts Hwange and visiting CAPS United deservedly shared the spoils after clashing in this tightly-contested Castle Lager Premier League soccer match played before a huge crowd at the Colliery yesterday.

At the end of the day it is was crystal clear that the green and white masses were more satisfied with the point given that their house is currently on fire which saw the players holding the management to ransom with a demand for their dues, a negative development which subsequently left their travelling to the coal mining town messed up with a very late departure from Harare.

The chaos rocking the Makepekepe camp is a recipe for disaster and will certainly have ripple effects on the team’s ambitions to be crowned champions at the end of the season and the earlier the club puts their house in order, the better for the 2006 champions and their passionate legion of fans, who yesterday reportedly went on a buying spree in town to aid their team as a “12th player” from the stands.

The Green Machine showed early signs of intent in this explosive encounter and could have raced into the lead in the 10th minute after striker Simba Nhivi embarked on a mazy run on the right flank before sending in a delicate cross which was smothered by alert goalkeeper Future Sibanda before former Hwange striker Dominic Chungwa could stab home from inside the box.

The coalminers read the danger signs well and started sniffing around for a breakthrough which could have come in the 20th minute, a curling corner kick was met with a flashing header by Munyaradzi Mungadze which agonisingly sailed inches over the bar with big goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda clutching at straws.

Five minutes later Hwange striker Gilbert Zulu turned into a saviour for the hosts when he ghosted in from nowhere to clear a Phineas Bamusi goal-bound effort out for a corner from the line with the CAPS bench already celebrating.

Bamusi had connected well a cheeky free-kick by Valentine Musarurwa from the edge of the box.

Ten minutes from the breather the wasteful Chungwa continued with his lack of precision in front of goal when he did well to turn David Boriwondo inside out inside the box only to miscue his left-footed effort with the ‘keeper to beat.

Then came a flurry of CAPS attack up to the half-time whistle which revolved around midfield kingpin Joel Ngodzo and Bamusi but again Chungwa fluffed two glorious opportunities to get the opener to leave scores goalless at the breather.

The last half was a see-saw with both teams taking turns to have attacks at goal but the goal proved elusive in a stanza whose notable talking points was firstly a freak CAPS United “goal” in the 55th minute by Chungwa who scored after referee Allen Basvi’s whistle had gone for a clear foul on goalkeeper Sibanda who had already collected the ball after a spill of an initial effort by substitute Amon Kambanje.

The second one was an intended clearance by lanky defender Boriwondo which crashed against the crossbar and out for a corner which was never utilised by CAPS five minutes from the end.

The coalminers will also attribute failure to garner maximum points to some tight man-marking tactics which was employed by CAPS United gaffer Lloyd Chitembwe who assigned steely defender Stephen Makatuka to stick on young slippery Hwange attacking midfielder and joint July 2016 Castle Lager Player of the Month winner Gift Mbweti like a leech the whole afternoon which took out the usual sting found in Hwange’s attacks.

After the match both coaches were satisfied by the draw.

Chitembwe also praised his boys for fighting for the valued point.

“I am happy with the approach by my boys to the match. I cannot fault them on anything today especially given the circumstances which happened in the build up to this game and I hope we can work hard for positive results going forward.” he said. The Herald

Teams

Hwange: F. Sibanda; P. Dube; G. Ndlovu; D. Boriwondo; O. Moyo; C. Banda (P. Zimunya, 76th min); C. Muleya (I. Mucheneka. 54th min); M Mungadze; A. Tshuma; G. Mbweti; G. Zulu.

CAPS United: E. Sibanda; V. Musarurwa; J. Jangano; C. Muzambwa; S. Makatuka; D. Chafa; M. Muchenje; P. Bamusi; S. Nhivi (A. Kambanje, 53th min); J. Ngodzo; D. Chungwa.