adminLovemore Zigara Midlands Sports Correspondent
Whawha 1-2 Caps United
CAPS United came back from behind to upstage a determined Whawha in a thrilling Castle Lager Premiership match at Ascot Stadium yesterday. Former Dynamos hotshot, Rodrick Mutuma was again the star of the show for the Green Machine after he took advantage of a lapse in concentration in the league debutants defence to punish them twice inside five minutes.
The hosts, nicknamed Chekera Pasi, had surged ahead in the 15th minute through a penalty converted by former Hwange attacking linkman Oscar Lungu after Takudzwa Jukulile, who is son to Whawha coach Luke Petros-Jukulile, had been hacked down by George Nyirenda in the box.
Petros-Jukulile together with his counterparts who are attending a Caf C licence course in Kwekwe was watching the game from the terraces as he was not part of the Gweru based side’s preparations for the whole week.
In the field of play, the prisons and correctional services outfit who matched their highly fancied opponents, somehow lost steam in the twilight stages of the first half which allowed Caps United to control the proceedings.
Early warning signs were there for the hosts when Caps United had two chances inside a minute when Moses Muchenje’s shot from inside the box was saved by Polite Sibanda in goal for the hosts in the 38th minute before Godknows Mhangami failed to connect from outside the box after being set up by Mutuma.
Five minutes later, Mutuma took matters into his own hands by taking advantage of some sloppy marking by the league debutants to head in a goal off a Hardlife Zvirekwi cross.
The Mvuma-born and bred striker came back to haunt the prison warders again on the stroke of halftime when he gained possession outside the box before shrugging off the challenge of his marker.
Mutuma then charged towards goal, roasting his marker once more before placing the ball in the bottom left corner past a diving Sibanda.
After the breather, the hosts’ technical adviser Lloyd Mutasa made some tactical changes. He brought in Michael Mageja for Gift Saunyama and the move seemed to pay dividends as Whawha began to win all the loose balls in the middle of the park.
Whawha began to attack the visitors’ goal but missed a glut of chances with the club’s top marksman last season, Albert Matewu showing some killer instincts but failing to convert.
Matewu came close to restoring parity in the 71st minute but was a shade too late to connect to a Roy Useni cross which needed just a touch to beat Caps goalie, Victor Twaliki.
After the chances, Whawha just like in the first half, let off the leg on the accelerator and it was Caps United who were happy to collect maximum points.
Caps United coach, Mark Harrison conceded that it was a tough match but was happy to collect maximum points.
“Thumbs-up to Whawha because they played some good football. I expected a tough match because it’s always dangerous to play teams which are promoted anywhere in the world but I’m happy with the three points, “he said.
His counterpart Mutasa blamed the loss on lapse of concentration by his players.
Said Mutasa: “We gave them two easy goals which boils down to two individual mistakes but obviously as a coach you would want to come out tops especially when you’re playing at home.”
Online Reporter