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Liberty Dube Sports Correspondent
ARMY side Buffaloes Football Club continued to blow hot and cold and failed to glide beyond mediocrity when they collected just three points in their last two Castle Premier Soccer League matches played in an interval of three days.
On Sunday, the soldiers march into Sakubva Stadium in yet another tricky encounter against wounded Caps United in a match Buffaloes gaffer Moses “Bambo” Chunga’s men need to be in their best of forms.
The joy Bambo had after beating the rejuvenated Harare City 3-2 at Sakubva last Sunday vanished like morning dew after his team was electrocuted 3-1 by the determined ZPC Kariba on Wednesday.
The soldiers still have 36 points from 27 matches, while the Green Machine now have 46 points from the same number of matches after salvaging a draw against the Norman Mapeza-coached side, FC Platinum, in another mid-week match played at National Sports Stadium.
Reports from Harare indicate that Buffaloes goalie Itai Chiwara made schoolboy blunders that allowed ZPC to score three goals before he was substituted for second-choice goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira.
Bambo defended his decision to substitute him saying he lacked confidence.
“It was a nightmare,” he said.
“He lacked confidence and we substituted him. Our first half was disastrous. We were not united. We gave our opponents too much room to wine and dine. The whole team did not perform well,” said Bambo.
Lloyd Katongomara, who scored the winner against Harare City, scored the only goal for the army side on Wednesday.
The nomadic gaffer said he was now treating the potentially intriguing match against Caps United with caution since they can’t afford to mess up any longer.
“I will make sure that we will play like we did in the second half (against ZPC). We are going to correct all mistakes before we meet Caps United. We need to play as a team. We need to concentrate to the last whistle,” Chunga said.
Buffaloes played without their reliable defenders, captain Prosper “Zhake” Matambanadzo and Liberty Chakoroma, who were suspended and injured respectively. The team is currently on position nine and will be aiming to beat Caps United and roll back into the top eight.
They were on Wednesday dislodged from position eight by Luke Masomere-coached side How Mine who humiliated Shabanie Mine 3-1. Buffaloes are, however, not safe from relegation and need at least a win to be safe.
Caps United, who dropped two vital points on Wednesday when they drew 0-0 with FC Platinum, moved seven points adrift of the log leaders and will be looking forward to collecting maximum points.
Makepekepe are now third on the log. Their championship dream seems to be waning by each game and a win for Taurai Mangwiro-coached side will bolster their ultimate dream.
In other matches scheduled for this weekend, log leaders Dynamos, who walloped Harare City 5-3 on Wednesday, will be looking forward to extending their lead when they face Bantu Rovers on Sunday.
Coal miners Hwange, who also thrashed the under-performing Bulawayo giants Highlanders 3-1, will travel to Gibbo Stadium for a date with Triangle on the same day, while ZPC Kariba will fight with the wounded Harare City.
Weekend fixtures:
Tomorrow: How Mine vs Chapungu (Hartsfield), Harare City v ZPC Kariba (Rufaro, SS), FC Platinum v Chicken Inn FC (Mandava)
Sunday: Buffaloes v Caps United (Sakubva), Triangle v Hwange (Gibbo), Highlanders v Chiredzi (Hartsfield), Dynamos v Bantu Rovers (Rufaro, SS), Black Rhinos v Shabanie Mine (Rimuka).
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