admin
Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter—
CAPS United . . . (3) 4
Highlanders . .. . . . . 0
TAURAI Mangwiro believes CAPS United got the perfect revenge at home when they humiliated Highlanders and dumped the beleaguered Bulawayo giants out of the Castle Lager Premiership race at the National Sports Stadium yesterday. Mangwiro and his players were in partying mood yesterday after scoring four goals, without response, in front of a good crowd at the giant stadium.
The Green Machine needed just 22 minutes yesterday to flatten their opponents and hand them their biggest defeat this season as they raced to a swift 3-0 lead.
After neutralising the visitors’ early raids, with goals from Ishmael Thindwa, Nicholas Alifandika and an own-goal by Dumisani Ndlovu, CAPS were on their way.
Kelvin Bulaji then killed the game as a contest with a firm header in the 75th minute.
Mangwiro said this was the best way to respond to the embarrassment they suffered at Barbourfields when they lost to Highlanders by the same margin.
“We wanted to atone for that loss. I am glad today the players came to the party and they delivered.
“We did very well.
“Emphasis at training was on retaining the ball for as long as possible and holding the transition well.
“I am sure today it all worked well for us. We could do more with improvement on possession,” said Mangwiro.
Bosso started strongly in the opening few minutes but after missing a couple of chances they were made to pay when Malawian forward Thindwa put the Green Machine ahead with his first goal for the club.
Alifandika doubled the lead when he headed home from a free-kick taken by Ronald Pfumbidzai after beating the offside trap.
Bosso could have reduced the arrears in the 14th minute but Charles Sibanda’s goal-bound effort was cleared off the line and the Bulawayo giants should also count themselves unlucky when Gabriel Nyoni was booked for diving, instead of being given a penalty, after beating his marker.
Ndlovu then made the costly blunder when he miscued his effort into his own net, beating a badly positioned goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni, to put Makepekepe firmly in the driver’s seat after 22 minutes.
Generally, Bosso’s defending was atrocious yesterday and interim coach Mark Mathe appeared clueless as he made numerous positional changes which apparently cost the team.
Mathe chose to leave out regular goalkeeper and skipper Ariel Sibanda for Nyoni, started with veteran defender Innocent Mapuranga playing defensive link before switching roles with Felix Chindungwe.
The defence failed to click and appeared jittery before Eric Mudzingwa was shunted back to his usual right-back position and Dumisani Ndlovu returning to the central defence to reunite with Mapuranga in the second half.
Bosso started the second half strongly, the same way they had begun in the opening minutes of the game but the goals could not come.
CAPS United defender Stephen Makatuka made a brilliant clearance from the line to deny former teammate Rahman Kutsanzira a goal.
But they were punished in the 75th minute when Bulaji headed home to bury a good cross by Zimbabwe youth international Takudzwa Mahori.
Makepekepe kept alive their championship hopes, remaining in third position with 45 points, four behind leaders Dynamos.
With five games remaining Mangwiro, who was at the receiving end of supporters’ fury after dropping points at home last month, said unity was needed.
“It’s the nature of our job. At times I feel the criticism that I get is unfair. But I am not here to try and defend myself.
“All I am asking for is for us to pull together in the same direction.
“That is what we need as a family and not to play the blame game,” said Mangwiro.
Highlanders remained fourth on the log standings but the Bulawayo giants are now 10 points off the pace in the championship race.
Bosso have let in seven goals in their last two games following the 3-1 home defeat to ZPC in their last match.
“It is too much but remember we did the same to CAPS United.
“It happens in football. All we needed to do was to be tactically better in defence,” said Mathe.
“We were not, and CAPS were inspired by the loss they suffered at Barbourfields, so they were up for it.
“We really struggled in dealing with their speed and their counter attack.”
Teams
CAPS United
T. Dube, T. Khumbuyani, R. Pfumbidzai, D. Chipala, S. Makatuka, T. Samanja, H. Zvirekwi, M. Muchenje (T. Mahori 57th min), N. Alifandika (G. Mangani, 70th min), I. Thindwa, K. Bulaji (D. Mukandi, 85th min)
Highlanders
N. Nyoni, D. Ndlovu, B. Kangwa, E. Mudzingwa, F. Chindungwe, I. Mapuranga, M. Maphosa (W. Ndiweni, 66th min), R. Kutsanzira, J. Ngodzo (P. Manhanga, 40th min), C. Sibanda (O. Zibande, 71st min), G. Nyoni.
Online Reporter