Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Scottland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
CAPS Utd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 1
CAPS United supporters yesterday remembered how to party after a solid show by the Green Machine that earned them a hard-fought win over Scottland at Rufaro.
It was also a show for the new signings as Democratic Republic of Congo forward Crispin Mutshimba Kope Mugalu made an immediate impact with a priceless header that decided the match in the 36th minute.
Makepekepe wasted no time in fielding all their new mid-season acquisitions, with Zambian defender Chitoshi Chinga and former Zimbabwe international Ishmael Wadi getting the nod to start.
Scottland also threw into the fray their mid-season trump card Terence Dzvukamanja, who has just returned home after a seven-year stint in South Africa.
But the day belonged to 34-year-old Mugalu, whose coach Ian Bakala, revealed he was not surprised by his sudden impact.
“He’s a striker that I know,” said Bakala. “This is the third club where I’m coaching him, and I know his qualities. Age might be there, but he’s a hard worker. I have faith in him.
“This is the first game. I can’t judge him, but I will continue pushing him. Again, it’s not only him.
“I think all the players, they played well. He did his part, but I’m just happy also with Bruce Kangwa. I think Bruce is helping us a lot.
“We hope these small boys will learn from him. I think we still have work to do. Each game is different.”
After a long week of social media banter, both teams came wanting to play on the carpet. Unfortunately, the bumpy turf at Rufaro would not allow that.
The surface needs attention as Wadi would have realised just 13 minutes into his homecoming.
He had done everything well to break away from his markers but the bounce kept playing him until he forced a shot and got injured in the process. Luckily, it was not a serious knock.
CAPS United then won a free kick on the wide right flank. Brian Kadamanja, who had one of his best games in the right-back position, made a flawless delivery into the box and as the ball appeared to hang in the air, Mugalu pounced with a bullet header that flew past goalkeeper Talbert Shumba.
Frenzied celebrations followed in the City End bay which was almost packed to capacity.
Makepekepe were deserved leaders at the break although scoring chances were few and far between.
But the second half tempo changed things a bit.
A speculative shot from Kadamanja almost caught goalkeeper Shumba unawares soon after the restart but a quick reflex from the former Warriors shot stopper saved the situation for the Mabvuku side.
Hardly tested in the opening 45 minutes, CAPS United goalkeeper Stephen Kwaku was forced to clean things up after Khama Billiat was given space to shoot on the turn in the early minutes of the second half.
Then, Makepekepe had the woodwork to thank in the next piece of action.
Scottland won a free-kick from almost the same position that resulted in CAPS United’s goal.
Walter Musona flighted a perfect delivery that was met by Tymon Machope. Ghanaian goalkeeper Kwaku should have been a relieved man as the ball hit the underside of the crossbar and bounced back into play.
The follow-up header from Billiat drifted over the bar as the star midfielder was not properly positioned.
Then came the moment of the save of the day, right at the hour mark.
Nyasha Chintuli, who had been grafting hard all day to justify his inclusion in the Green Machine starting line-up, met a loose ball just inside the box and directed a scorcher on target. Shumba rose to the task when going airborne to meet the ball on its path and deflect it out for a corner kick.
With Scottland desperate to end a win-less run that now spans four matches, Musona could have done better, twice missing the target from free-kicks in promising positions.
Substitute Michael Tapera thought he had the new boys level with the last piece of action. But there was no room for a dramatic finish to this duel as Tapera’s header was ruled out for offside.
CAPS United, who spent most of the first half of the season fighting relegation, moved to 10th place with their win and are now on 23 points.
Bakala was humble in victory against a star-studded Scottland side.
“It’s not a big win, it’s just a good victory. But I think for me, I told the players, this is the easiest game.
“Those who have names, they will start playing individual football. But us, I think we have to play as a team, which they did, giving us results.
“So I think the results came. And we just have to forget about this. We focus on the upcoming game.
“Because I think they are not first in the league. Even them, they are fighting. Even we are fighting to catch up with them. So it was tough, but for us, it was easy,” said Bakala.
The celebrations by CAPS United supporters lasted well into the evening.
But for Scottland, there were murmurs and questions against coach Tonderai Ndiraya.
The defeat further dented Scottland’s title aspirations as they are now 12 points behind log leaders MWOS who took their tally to 40 points on Saturday after beating Bikita Minerals 1-0 at Ngoni.
Ndiraya, however, felt it was just a bad day in the office.
“We have played some good football but unfortunately we have not been getting the results that we want.
“Coming to the game, I thought we had a very good game. I think in most moments of the game we were very much in control of the game.
“In the first half I think we got an early chance which we should have put away. In football and particularly in matches of this calibre, it is decided by small details. I felt we should have scored one or two goals today for us to win the game,” said Ndiraya.
