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deserved victory over the coalminers.
The small band of CAPS United fans who braved the chilly afternoon at the National Sports Stadium celebrated their win against Hwange as if the Green Machine had won the championship title.
Two first half goals from strikers David Rediyoni and Moses Muchenje helped CAPS United to a victory that was made all sweeter on a day when fellow Premiership giants Dynamos and Highlanders were biting the dust.
CAPS United fans went into a frenzy as news filtered in the giant stadium that bitter rivals Dynamos had been gored by Buffaloes at Sakubva while Bosso had fallen to Chicken Inn in their Bulawayo derby.
With the Premiership programme having resumed yesterday following the two-week break to pave the way for Fifa World Cup qualifying assignments across the continent, CAPS United knew they had to find their rhythm in time for the back to back clashes against Bosso.
CAPS United will be at home for Part One of the 2013 Battle of the Cities before travelling to fortress Barbourfields for the reverse fixture.
In yesterday’s game CAPS United were the first to come off the blocks when giant striker Tawanda Nyamandwe latched onto a loose ball in the second minute but his effort from the box sailed just over the bar.
Hwange made a timid attempt at goal when Evans Rusike shot wide of Tafadzwa Dube in the fifth minute while CAPS nearly got the breakthrough in the 12th minute when Dominic Chungwa beat his marker on the right flank before squaring a low thunderbolt that his teammate, Rahman Kutsanzira, made a mess of as it hit his abdomen.
Nkosana Siwela also asked the CAPS United defence some questions when he beat Tawanda Munyanduri before whipping in a high cross that Dube failed to deal with.
Hwange winger Farayi Vimisayi, however, failed to get to end of the ball and ended up entangled in the nets in the 22nd minute before Rediyoni warmed up the chilly afternoon when he slammed the ball past Timothy Sibanda inside the box in the 30th minute.
Hardly had the celebrations for the first goal died among the handful of CAPS United fans when midfielder Tendai Samanja spotted Muchenje with a fine cross for the latter to nod home from close range.
The coalminers who have been struggling with their game this year, woke up from their slumber in the second period when David Boriwondo beat Arnold Chivheya but his final delivery into the box was poor.
Hwange coach Nation Dube then pulled out Vimisayi for veteran Gilbert Zulu while Andrew Tshuma replaced Oscar Lungu in the 50th minute.
But CAPS United remained the dominant side and their fans made it clear they would welcome any Dynamos defeat on any occasion when they became livelier after 60 minutes after news filtered from Sakubva that Buffaloes had surged ahead.
For CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro, it was his team’s overall showing that mattered most to him and the former Monomotapa gaffer felt they had reaped the rewards of the hard work they have been putting in.
“We were working very hard during the break and that was a very crucial period as it gave us time look at the pool of players that we have.
“I had never had an opportunity to watch some of the players in a game situation but I used this break to assess the players and it will help me to make proper decisions when we move to the second round of the season,” said Mangwiro.
Mangwiro also acknowledged that the victory over Hwange boosted their confidence ahead of their clash against pacesetters Highlanders who were floored by Chicken Inn yesterday. “We could have scored more goals in the second half but I am not disappointed that we did not increase the lead.
“What it meant was that we had to protect the result once we had it and even in the second half we had a couple of decent chances but a workmen performance in the first half had carried the day for us.
“We needed to do well against Hwange, before facing Highlanders and I am sure that what we got today can serve us well before the next fixture,” said Mangwiro.
While Mangwiro insisted CAPS United had benefited from the break, Nation Dube felt the recess had affected them.
“We took a break and never played any friendlies during the break since we far away from any other Premiership clubs as the nearest clubs are in Bulawayo.
“The Division One clubs which we could have played were fulfilling their fixtures. In the first half we were so rusty but we played better in the second half,” said Dube.
Teams
CAPS United: T. Dube, A. Chiveya, T. Munyanduri, T. Nyamandwe (L. Fiyado 63rd min), M. Muchenje, D. Chungwa, R. Kutsanzira (G. Phiri 46th min), T. Samanja, R. Pfumbidzai, D. Rediyoni (D. Mukandi 81st min), T, Khumbuyani
Hwange: T. Sibanda, M. Mpofu, M. Mungadzi, J. Ndlovu, D. Boriwondo, A. Thsuma, (I. Masame 50th min) O. Lungu, T. Chese, N. Siwela (M. Longwe 83rd min), E. Rusike, F. Vimisayi (G. Zulu 50th min).
Online Reporter