Black Rhinos back on top
By Austin Karonga
Black Rhinos continued with their dominance in the first round of the Castle Lager Premiership when they beat strugglers Tsholotsho 3-0 to go back on the top of the log yesterday.
A Martin Mine header put the hosts in front but they had to wait until the second half to seal their win.
Second half substitute Yamikani Silima and striker Lot Chiwunga got on the score sheet to extend Chauya Chipembere’s run as the league approaches the halfway mark.
Rhinos are now on 31 points from 16 matches but enjoy a healthier goal difference than second place Ngezi Platinum Stars.
The home side’s coach Stanford “Stix” Mutizwa maintained that his team is not yet safe from relegation despite occupying top spot on the log.
“I’m happy with the way the boys played especially in the second half,” Mutizwa said.
“Playing against a team that has been losing some games is always like a cup final and that is why the first half was so tense but we managed to unsettle them in the second half.
“We are happy with the three points coming from a background of losing one and drawing two in the last three weeks.
“I just want the boys to keep up the momentum and fighting spirit and aim for maximum points in all our home games and get at least a point away.”
Midfielder Mine pounced on a Sydney Linyama header inside the Tsholotsho box and scored with an easy tap in the 33rd minute.
In the second half, Rhinos increased their lead when Silima scored with his first touch in the 79th minute only two minutes after coming in for Milton Kureva.
Chiwunga, who had a good outing upfront, headed in the third goal for the army side after a miscue by Silima from a Benjamin Marere cross two minutes before the end.
Tsholotsho coach Darlington Dodo said he did not understand what hit his players in the second half due to the way they crumbled.
“I think first half we did not do very badly as we did in the second half but we just didn’t convert the clear-cut chances that we got of which I think if we had converted them it was going to give us an upper hand… that also pulled us down,” Dodo said.
“When we came back for the second half we were out of sorts, I’m not sure what could have been the problem with my players because we did not come to the party.” Daily News
Yesterday’s results
Chicken Inn 0-0 Dynamos, Black Rhinos 3-0 Tsholotsho, Triangle 1-0 Ngezi Platinum, Hwange 0-1 ZCP Kariba.
