Champs pick point on the road

Sikhumbuzo Moyo in BULAWAYO
Bulawayo City . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
CAPS United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
JOHN ZHUWAWU continued to impress in his breakthrough season by scoring the goal that gave champions CAPS United a point in this Castle Lager Premiership tie at Hartsfield yesterday. Zhuwawu nodded home a cross from winger Phineas Bamusi, 44 seconds after the break, past City goalkeeper Ndodana Sibanda. Last season, the Green Machine slumped to a 1-3 defeat at the hands of their opponents here.

In a game of two halves, former FC Platinum forward Ishmael Wadi thrust City ahead with a brilliant header in the 32nd minute when a cross from Sipho Ndlovu found him unmarked inside the box and he beat a diving Edmore “Zikeeper” Sibanda.

It was a goal that came out of the blue, as Makepekepe enjoyed more ball possession, but their biggest hurdle was the City central defence of Zibusiso Sibanda and Zephania Ngodzo, who were excellent on the afternoon.

The champions could have levelled matters right on the stroke of half-time but a Zhuwawu grounder from the penalty box arc was well dealt with by Sibanda.

A lapse in concentration cost City dearly, as they conceded soon after the break, in a match in which the hosts finished with 10 men after Morris Kadzola was sent off.

“To us, it was a good point gained against a good team. Two tough games that we have played in a row and we managed to get four points, I think it’s okay. Despite that lapse in concentration, I think we matched them pound for pound,” said City coach Mandla Mpofu.

CAPS said they were also happy with a point.

“We are happy we got a point, it’s not a bad result considering that we lost to our great rivals in our last game, we could have collected three points judging by the chances we created.

“We were not active in front of the goal. Our main objective now is to claw up the league table. We don’t belong to where we are now. We have to claw up the ladder and focus on the next game against Bantu Rovers,” assistant coach Mark Mathe said.

The Green Machine, who had earlier indicated that they would set up a temporary base in Bulawayo while awaiting their next match against Rovers, which was initially slated for Saturday, returned to the capital after their game was moved to Sunday.

Teams

Bulawayo City: N. Sibanda, N. Sianchali (D. Maposa 92nd min) S. Ndlovu, C. Rupiya (A. Tandi 72nd min), I. Wadi, M. Mungadze, Z. Ngodzo, R. Pavari, Z. Sibanda, I. Kutsanzira, M. Kadzola

CAPS United: E. Sibanda, V. Musarurwa, H. Zvirekwi, C. Munzabwa, S. Makatuka, D. Chafa, M. Muchenje, P. Bamusi, A. Chidiebere, J. Zhuwawu, D. Chungwa