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BLACK Mambas collected their first set of points this season yesterday when they dismissed Chauya Chikwata in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Morris Depot yesterday.
The police side, who lost their first two matches away to champions Motor Action and newboys Blue Ribbon, powered to victory with a fine display.
Mambas’ striker Oudience Rundofa put the hosts ahead just before the quarter hour mark while Abbas Amidu added the second in the 66th minute.
Chauya Chikwata, with a single home victory against Kiglon last weekend, pulled one back in the 83rd minute via Gift Phiri.
The Premiership returnees have been poor on the road losing 3-5 to CAPS United in the season opener and again yesterday they were found wanting.
The match began with the hosts dictating pace and were duly rewarded in the 14th minute when Amidu beat his marker, raced for goal and sent a fine delivery to the former Dynamos forward Rundofa who finished with aplomb.
After the goal, the police side threatened to increase their lead with former Hwange midfielder Fortune Ncube, who was on song, troubling the visitors.
Zimbabwe Saints suffered an early setback just before half the hour mark when goalkeeper Fibion Shonhayi was injured and had to replaced by former Dynamos keeper Munyaradzi Diya.
The visitors upped the tempo as they battled to find an equaliser.
Saints’ forwards Beaven Chikaka and Ntokozo Tshuma caused anxious moments for the hosts but Mambas clung on until the breather.
In the second half Mambas came back rejuvenated again but were wasteful in front of goal.
Amidu was the chief culprit, wasting a lot of chances, and in the 64th minute he received a fine delivery from Ncube but chose to be stylish and lost possession in the process.
Two minutes later, Amidu redeemed himself when again he received a cross from Ncube, coolly controlled and fired home.
Armed with a 2-0 lead Mambas went to sleep and with a bit of luck Saints could have forced a draw after they pulled one back.
Chauya Chikwata scored when Phiri curled in from the corner, beating a poorly positioned Mambas ‘keeper.
After the goal, Saints piled on the pressure, forcing three corner kicks inside a few minutes.
Chikaka and substitute Simbarashe Gate were unlucky while Chipo Tsodzo’s flashing header just missed the target.
Midlands’ referee Lawrence Magada and his assistants Thomas Mususa and David Sango delayed the resumption of the second half when they remained in the dressing room protesting over their match fees.
The referees had failed to agree with the home team on the kilometres covered from their province to Harare causing a 10-minute delay.
After the match Saints’ coach Willard Mashinkilla Khumalo conceded that his team did not play well.
“We didn’t come to the party today. We need to improve on our away record. And that early setback where we lost our goalkeeper affected our game plan.
“It was not our day, if you do not score you do not win,” said Khumalo.
Black Mambas assistant coach Martin Bonongwe said it felt good to collect maximum points after a poor start.
“It was a tight match.
“We took our chances but our players thought a 2-0 margin was a big and we allowed them to come back into the game.
“We have lost two games but we are happy to pick up points and we will have a starting point in the next match,” said Bonongwe.
Teams
Black Mambas: D. Chakabva, G. Chikweva, L. Kaisa, B. Nyahunzvi, I. Nyoni, A. Musasa,, P. Kabwe, M. Shingirai (K. Chimbadzwa 53rd minute), A. Abbas F. Ncube, O. Rundofa.
Zim Saints: F. Shonhayi (M. Diya 28th minute), J. Mangiza(N. Murisa 70th minute), P. Sithole, C. Tsodzo, D. Sithole, V. Chitema, C. Ndebele(S. Gate 53rd minute), N. Tshuma, B. Chikaka, G. Phiri, A. Mbaiwa.
Online Reporter