Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
CAPS Utd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Simba Bhora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2) 3
DEFENDING champions Simba Bhora finally got it right at Rufaro yesterday and they did it in style when they crashed struggling giants CAPS United in a Castle Lager Premiership match yesterday.
The Shamva side ended their poor run in Harare this year with a deserved win, on their fourth attempt, which lifted them to within two points of surprise log leaders MWOS on the log standings.
But the result further compounded the Green Machine’s woes as Makepekepe joined fellow giants Dynamos in the relegation zone at the end of Week 13.
Simba Bhora were full value for their money yesterday.
Having lost twice to Dynamos in the league and the Castle Challenge Cup and then falling to Scottland, Simba Bhora looked the hungrier of the two teams yesterday and had to vent all their frustrations on Makepekepe.
The Green Machine somehow offered little resistance and the 85th minute strike from second half substitute Junior Bunjira could not help matters.
Simba Bhora had already bagged the game with goals from midfielders Barnabas Mtuche and Donald Mudadi late on in the first half.
Emmanuel Ziocha further took the game away from CAPS United’s reach in the 52nd minute with a simple tap in after a horrible defensive mistake by Tapiwa Matongo.
Simba Bhora coach Joel Lupahla could not hid his joy although worried by attempts at showboating by some of his players in the second half.
“I’m happy for my boys. We have come here; this is the fourth time that we’ve been here. We lost three games that we came here for.
“But today, I think the first 45 minutes they played good football. Second half, obviously, complacency sometimes creeps into their heads. They changed the way we played first half,” said Lupahla.
“You could see that some of the boys were maybe disrespecting the opponent, which I don’t like. I’m one coach who likes players who just play simple football. But we have young players, sometimes they will get carried away…
“But apart from everything that happened, I’m happy today that I’ve come here to Rufaro for the fourth time and we’ve won.”
Simba Bhora are in imperious form. They have now scored seven goals from their last two games, having won their previous match against Triangle 4-0 at Wadzanayi.
Mtuche opened the scoring yesterday after Makepekepe had failed to clear their lines from a freekick taken by Blessing Moyo, with 38 minutes played.
They were 2-0 up just before the half time whistle. Mudadi roasted his marker just inside the box and then placed a low shot which beat Ghanaian goalkeeper Stephen Kwaku Odai to his near post.
CAPS United coach Ian Bakala made a double substitution at the restart by bringing in Rodwell Chinyengetere and Tendai Matindife, who came in with a lot of energy on the left flank.
But they could not quite get the response they needed after going down to two first half goals.
Instead, Makepekepe paid dearly for a costly defensive blunder by new boy Tapiwa Matondo, who was dispossessed by Junior Makunike in ill-advised attempt to dribble the midfielder in a dangerous position.
Coming face to face with the goalkeeper, Makunike decided to set up better positioned teammate Ziocha who made no mistake from close range.
Bakala, who is still searching for his first win since taking over from Lloyd Chitembwe three weeks ago, had fielded an unchanged side from the team that played a 1-1 draw in the Harare Derby last week.
CAPS United could have reduced the arrears midway through the second half but skipper Phineas Bamusi and Emmanuel Joseph Mbollo failed to take their chances in promising positions.
Bunjira finally got the consolation when he won the ball just inside the box, beat his marker and then expertly placed the ball to the bottom far left upright.
Bakala was disappointed by the defeat, which left Makepekepe rooted fourth from the bottom with 10 points in the bag.
The Zambian blasted his defence for the errors which gifted Simba Bhora the goals.
“I think we just give away the points,” he said.
“The defence have to work much harder. This time, it’s not a time of circus or playing. They play a good game. Next game, they are down, which is unacceptable.
“As a club, the players who play for CAPS United, they have to fight for the badge. But conceding goals like this, it’s not acceptable,” said Bakala.
Teams:
CAPS Utd: Stephen Kwaku Odai, Bruce Kangwa, Wesley Milanzi (J. Bunjira, 71st min), Jimmy Dzingai (B. Kadamanja, 49th min), Tapiwa Matongo, Love Raema Bissila Mabiala (T. Matindife, 46th min), Kundai Benyu, Tanaka Shandirwa, Phineas Bamusi, Nyasha Chintuli (R. Chinyengetere, 46th min), Emmanuel Mbollo
Simba Bhora:
William Thole, Webster Tafa, Isheanesu Mauchi, Roland Kangadzi (B. Ndereki 87th min), Barnabas Mtuche, Blessing Moyo, Ishmael Nyanhi, Butholezwe Ncube (C. Mavhurume m, 87th min), Junior Makunike (T. Meke, 79th min), Emmanuel Ziocha (N. Tigere, 79th min) Donald Mudadi (I. Gurirab, 66th min).
Who are all these people mentioned in teams lineups? Do they play football or they play draughts? Surely very few people can brave the chilly winter afternoon to go watch people whose names sound like taxi rank marshalls. Zim football has gone to the dogs.