Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
CAPS United showed why they could be one of the clubs to beat in the Munhumutapa Cup when they massacred Scottland developmental side 6-0 at Baobab yesterday.
Chawanangwa Kaonga scored a hat-trick for the Harare giants, while Malawian compatriot Lloyd Njaliwa, Junior Bunjira and substitute Davison Marowa scored with a goal apiece.
Chawanangwa Kaonga
It was a win CAPS United needed at all costs to avoid any humiliation, given their new rivalry with Scottland, the PSL team.
With Dynamos, Highlanders and some PSL teams falling by the way side, CAPS United could now be a real threat going into the last 16.
CAPS United’s win came on a day, when other venues experienced drama.
Norton Big Boys coach Rodreck Mutuma was left fuming at the match officials yesterday after his side crashed out following a home defeat to Premiership side FC Hunters.
Mutuma felt his side was treated unfairly after appeals for a penalty were turned down late on, as they pushed for an equaliser that could have changed the complexion of the game.
The Division 2 side, comprising retired former professional and semi-professional footballers, watched in agony as their campaign collapsed around them late on.
FC Hunters forward Michael Tapera put the game to bed with a 90th minute strike, adding to the earlier goals from Munyaradzi Mshanga and Godfrey Dabgwa.
The Big Boys had kept their hopes alive after going on the breather on level terms, with Charles Rukwanhi cancelling out Mshanga’s 40th minute opener.
Rukwanhi scored a screamer just before the half time break, to give his team a fighting chance in the second half.
FC Hunters, however, restored their lead in the 66th minute, courtesy of Dabgwa. Tapera then put the game beyond the hosts’ reach at the stroke of full time.
But just before the goal, there was a brief stoppage due to fan unrest. Play was temporarily halted when the home fans rained missiles onto the pitch protesting the referee’s decision to deny their team a penalty.
The Big Boys’ supporters were not amused after the referee waved play on when substitute Evans Gwekwerere fell under a challenge inside the box.
The decision drew the ire of their coach, Mutuma, who turned up for the post-match press conference furious and accused the match officials of bias against his team.
“We lost but the referee was biased. We didn’t lose to our opponents, but we lost to biased officiating,” said Mutuma.
“You can see, a clear penalty. Evans was fouled inside the box.
“Where are we going with this kind of officiating? Every time we are complaining about refereeing.
“We are a small team from the division 2 but they are being biased against us. We have put effort to get to this stage but then we lose in this way. We are not going anywhere with our football,” said Mutuma.
In another big upset, Blanket Mine’s fairytale season took another turn after they knocked TelOne out of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup winning 4-3 on penalties to progress to the last 16 of the competition.
The match had ended one all in regulation time.
TelOne surged ahead through Bruno Mtigo after 29 minutes but the Central Region Soccer League log leaders levelled shortly after the break through Matthew Hlabati.
They managed to hold on forcing the match to be decided on penalties.
Frank Makarati, Blessing Matebeck, Innocent Mucheneka all scored for TelOne while Silas Songani and
Nqobizitha Masuku missed.
For Blanket Mine,Malvin Nyauyanga had his spot kick saved while
Roy Useni, Matthew Hlabati, Ishmael Mack and Ali Maliselo converted.
“I want to thank God for guiding us into the next stage of the competition,” said Blanket Mine coach, Luke Petros-Jukulile.
TelOne coach, Saul Chaminuka was a disappointed man.
“Disappointing result, very disappointing especially that we led, and conceded a goal that is a school boy blunder,” he said.
