Online Reporter
Veronica Gwaze, Don Makanyanga and Langton Nyakwenda
CAPS United, MWOS and ZPC Kariba booked Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final places yesterday as Tinotenda Meke, Nigel Makumbe and Munashe Kamwendo decided three first-round ties.
Meke struck in the 90th minute of CAPS United’s 3-2 win over Simba Bhora, Makumbe created one goal and scored another as MWOS beat Agama 2-0, while Kamwendo carried ZPC Kariba past Ngezi Platinum Stars in a victory dedicated to the Lake Kariba ferry disaster victims.
CAPS find late answer
CAPS United’s hopes of winning the Chibuku Super Cup for the first time remained alive after all five goals came in a second half in which Simba Bhora twice recovered from a goal down.
Simba were first to threaten after the break, with Harrison Masina testing Victor James before beating Talent Chamboko and Kudzai Chigwida inside the box, only to shoot straight at the goalkeeper.
CAPS coach Takesure Chiragwi responded by introducing Ishmael Wadi and Tanaka Shandirwa, and the changes paid off in the 53rd minute.
Shandirwa’s delivery found Dominic Njaliwa, who powered a header beyond William Thole to give the Green Machine the lead.
It lasted only six minutes.
Masina crossed for Petrus Simaneka, who headed past James to bring the Shamva side level.
CAPS restored their lead after Thole tipped Uchizi Vunga’s effort over the bar and Chawananga Kaonga’s resulting corner kick found Chamboko, who turned the ball home.
Wadi then missed a chance to extend the lead, and Simba punished CAPS when substitute Blessed Ndereki split their defence with a pass for Simaneka to score his second goal in the 80th minute.
With a penalty shoot-out looming, Meke beat Thole with a low strike from distance to send CAPS into the last eight.
Chiragwi said a candid half-time discussion and the early substitutions had changed the match, although he was unhappy that his team twice allowed Simba back into the contest.
“We had a candid conversation at half-time, so in the second half we made early changes to give us creativity,” he said. “However, we failed to manage the game and they came from behind twice. I am happy that we eventually got the winning goal, but generally we have a lot of homework.”
Simba coach Mandla Mpofu blamed poor defending and questioned the contribution of players recruited during the off-season.
“We did massive recruitment during the off-season and unfortunately the players have not lived up to our expectations,” he said.
“I believe we conceded soft goals. We should have done better. Now we are out of all the cup competitions and the right thing for us to do is focus on finishing the league in a respectable position.”
Hippo’s gift to Mutasa
At Ngoni, Makumbe broke Agama’s resistance with a decisive seven-minute intervention after the match had remained goalless for 74 minutes.
He set up Arthur Banda for the opening goal in the 75th minute before curling the ball beyond the goalkeeper from the edge of the box seven minutes later. The goal secured an early birthday present for coach Lloyd Mutasa, who turns 59 today.
“He is a talented boy. He does what he does best. He could have scored two today,” said Mutasa.
The Chibuku Super Cup now represents MWOS’ only realistic chance of silverware this season.
The Punters are out of the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup and have fallen off the pace in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title race. They reached the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals last season, and Mutasa wants them to go at least one step further.
“We always want to do better than yesterday,” he said.
Agama coach Godfrey Tamirepi was left disappointed after his side’s resistance was broken in the closing 15 minutes. The Mt Darwin side must now turn their attention to their fight against relegation in the Castle Lager Premier League.
ZPC win for ferry victims
At Baobab, ZPC Kariba coach Expense Chitukutuku dedicated his side’s victory to the victims of last week’s Lake Kariba ferry disaster after Kamwendo scored the only goal against Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Ngezi started brightly, but failed to turn their early pressure into a goal.
Kamwendo nearly punished them when he found himself one on one with goalkeeper Tatenda Chikowero, who produced a fine save to keep the scores level.
The ZPC Kariba forward made amends five minutes before half-time when his shot from inside the box took a slight deflection before finding the far corner.
Ngezi raised the tempo after the restart, but the visitors held their shape and protected their lead. Substitute Orlando Zvavarevi almost brought the hosts level when his effort from an acute angle struck the outside of the post.
Marvelous Mukumba had Ngezi’s final opportunity in the last minute, but his low effort was comfortably gathered by ZPC Kariba goalkeeper Tatenda Munditi.
Ngezi coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva admitted his side had paid for failing to convert their opportunities.
“It’s not good for us as a team. We couldn’t use the chances that came our way,” said Mutiwekuziva.
Chitukutuku said the victory had restored confidence after last weekend’s home defeat.
“It’s a good result. We needed to regain the confidence the guys lost last weekend. We did this job out of respect for the lives lost, and we dedicate the win to all the people who perished in the national disaster,” he said.
