Benard hopeful

Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
MOTOR Action captain Passmore Benard believes the Mighty Bulls should use the enforced break to plug out some of the loopholes exposed in their squad during the Castle Lager Premiership tie against league champions Dynamos. After starting off jittery, relegation-threatened Motor Action calmed their nerves and managed to absorb everything that their more illustrious rivals threw at them, during a league match at Rufaro on Thursday.

Motor Action congested their midfield department where Ngoni Maviri and Yves Ebabali gave their young players like Wisdom Mutasa and Tafadzwa Mukahlera some stability and guidance.

It was refreshing that the mobile Mighty Bulls midfield had their bright moments during the game when they forced Warriors midfielders Tawanda Muparati and Devon Chafa to play second fiddle.

Benard played in the rightback position while another veteran, Douglas Walaza, was at leftback with Godfrey Moyo and Collen Kwaramba forming the central defence that gave a cushion to goalkeeper Itai Chiwara.

In the second half, Ebabali could have silenced the largely Dynamos crowd when he was set through by Maviri in the 51st minute but failed to beat goalkeeper George Chigova who pulled off a fine save.

With time ticking away, the inexperienced Motor Action outfit thought they had stolen a precious point but they should have learnt a lesson from Highlanders that it’s never over until the final whistle.

In April, Bosso were seconds away from a famous victory against DeMbare during a league match but Patson Jaure equalised deep in injury time at Rufaro.

On Thursday, Sydney Linyama out-jumped Walaza to head the ball past Chiwara in the 89th minute and Benard’s eyes told a sad story.
“We played very well but lack of concentration in the dying minutes was our biggest late down.

“I am sure we gave Dynamos a good run. Most of the players are still new to Premiership football because we lost a number of seasoned players during the transfer window.

“But we have managed to re-build and I think we managed to put Dynamos under some pressure,” said Benard.
Motor Action, who are reeling from financial challenges, lost a number of players during the mid-season, including former skipper Clement Matawu and his brother Louis,  Misheck Mburayi, Dylan Chivandire, Tigere Mapuranga and Charles Mutero.

Antipas then turned to the Aces Youth Soccer Academy, where they took Mutasa, Albert Kusemwa, and Walter Musona while recruiting Marvel Samaneka, who was off-loaded by CAPS United.

When the league resumes, Motor Action will host Triangle and the Bulls are hopeful of collecting their first three set of points in a very long time.
“I’m impressed by the youngsters and they are good players. I think we should be able to win our next Premiership match.

“Now we are going to work on the mistakes noted in this game and we hope to improve our finishing.
“In the game against Dynamos, we created some chances but failed to bury them,” said Benard.

Since losing 2-1 to Monomotapa during week 15, Motor Action have failed to score a single goal in four games but Antipas has not thrown in the towel yet.

“I think if we continue fighting like the way we did against Dynamos and giving up good performances, then chances of surviving relegation are there.

“But it’s still 11 games to go. We have to keep on fighting and hope to keep our house intact. I would say lack of experience was our biggest late down but experience comes with playing so many games.

“I believe the guys will come up with better shows in the future,” said Antipas.