Caps keep league title hopes alive

From Ray Bande in MUTARE
Caps United 2-1 Buffaloes
IMPRESSIVE striker Honey Chimutimunzeve and Godknows Mangani’s first half goals were all that Caps United needed to secure a vital win over an out-of-sorts Buffaloes in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Sakubva yesterday.

With six points to play for from two matches, yesterday’s results kept alive Caps United’s slim mathematical chance of winning the league.

After Division One bound Bantu Rovers held log leaders Dynamos to a goalless stalemate at Rufaro, Taurai Mangwiro’s men are now trailing the league defending champions by five points.

Buffaloes were their own enemies and will have none but themselves to blame for yesterday’s defeat after their strikers took turns to misuse clear cut scoring chances that they created especially in the first half.

Stocky Buffaloes striker Malvern Fenyeka will probably take much of the blame after he missed a good number of scoring chances especially when he directed his effort wide of target as he failed to beat Caps United goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube from close range in a one-on-one situation with only two minutes into the match.

The visitors drew first blood with only three minutes into the match when Chimutimunzeve headed home Mangani’s corner kick.

The home team restored parity three minutes later thanks to a stunning turn and shoot by Fenyeka which left Dube a well beaten man.

With Buffaloes goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira well off the line, Mangani then propelled Makepekepe into the lead in the 40th minute with a bicycle kick from the edge of the box.

Buffaloes tried hard to pile pressure on their opponents in the second half in search of an equaliser but they found their opponents solid in defense.

In post match interviews, Mangwiro said he has watched a number of Buffaloes matches and his knowledge of the Mutare side helped him craft a game plan that worked well for him.

His opposite number, Moses Chunga, who knows fully well that his team is not safe from relegation, blamed it on the lack of precision upfront.

Teams

Buffaloes: B Mwandimutsira; S Nkata; K Thembani; P Chandisaita; P Matizanadzo; T Mombeshora; R Mwenga; L Chakoroma; M Gutu (L Katongomara 59th minute); J Muzokomba; M Fenyeka (K Juwakinyu 50th minute)

Caps United: T Dube; T Khumbuyani; G Nyirenda; R Pfumbidzai; T Samanja; H Zvirekwi; G Phiri (T Makanahari 92nd minute); G Mangani; I Thindwa (D Mukandi 85th minute); H Chimutimunzeve (N Alfandika 77th minute)