Arenel, Chiefs draw

Bulawayo Chiefs 0-0 Arenel Movers

ARENEL Movers and Bulawayo Chiefs drew nil-all in a lacklustre match at Luveve Stadium. The teams looked comfortable sharing points, with Chiefs failing to capitalise on their attacking prowess. Chiefs remain on 18 points, while Arenel Movers sit on 11 points, three ahead of the bottom team Hwange.

Manica Diamonds edged bottom-placed Hwange 1-0.Bulawayo Chiefs were the better team on the attack, especially in the second-half. They pressed hard exerting pressure and were unlucky not to find the target.Their leading goal scorer Never Rauzhi was found wanting.

“We cannot rely on Never for goals week in week out. If we had resources, we were going to look for a seasoned striker to come and help our strike force. It was a tight game. Being a local derby, and the players knowing each other, it wasn’t going to be easy.

“We are a team that can play between the lines, but they did their homework, they were tight, especially in midfield, but we tried to punish them in wide areas, capitalising on the age of Timothy January and the mobility of Kudzi (Dzingwe) because he likes going forward, but we didn’t create many chances. We have created many chances before against big teams, but today I think it was a tight game.

“Failing to score in two consecutive games doesn’t worry us much because most of the boys that we rely on in terms of scoring are young, so we need to give them time to grow,” said Bulawayo Chiefs head coach Thulani Sibanda. Arenel Movers gaffer Farai Tawachera was not pleased with the result.

“That’s not what we wanted, but it’s a result in football. We were coming from two straight defeats so we needed to stop that and try to start from somewhere. I will not cry much, yes it’s a draw, but it was a good game from both teams. “Congratulations to the boys, they displayed good football. As much as we didn’t want a draw, we are trying to go up the ladder, but that’s what we got today, we will take the point,” said Tawachera.

Meanwhile, former Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) champions FC Platinum FC Platinum defeated struggling Dynamos 1-0 at Mandava Stadium in Zvishavane yesterday, adding to DeMbare’s woes.

Wilfred Muvirimi secured the only goal of the game for the platinum miners in the 61st minute from a Brian Banda assist. The victory sees FC Platinum climb to 28 points, sitting just one point behind log leaders Manica Diamonds.

On the other hand, Dynamos suffered their fourth loss, further putting pressure on head coach Genesis Mangombe whose position is under scrutiny.
DeMbare are now in 13th place with 16 points. They have notched three wins and seven draws.