daniel chigunwe
Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
CAPS Utd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2
Chegutu Pirates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
WILLIAM Manondo scored a brace to hand giants CAPS United maximum points against Castle Lager Premiership new boys Chegutu Pirates in a dramatic finish to what almost degenerated into a chaotic afternoon at Rufaro yesterday.
The Green Machine forward opened the scoring in the 67th minute and returned in added time with another header after Gift Mwinga had brought the visitors level with a cunning free kick late on.
Chegutu gave a good fight but once again the new boys were a bad advertisement to the topflight football yesterday after their supporters caused a 27-minute stoppage in protest against Makepekepe’s opener.
The fans were not happy with the decision by the match officials to award CAPS United a throw-in which they thought was supposed to be taken by their team.
From the move, Makepekepe earned a corner kick which resulted in the goal. Mayhem erupted in the Vietnam Bay housing the visiting supporters, which made it difficult for the match to restart.
Far-side assistant referee Tafadzwa Nkala feared for his life after a metal object was hurled at him and referee Cecil Gwezere had to stop play. Police were called in to quell the situation and the match finally resumed after 27 minutes of uncertainty.
This is not the first time that Chegutu Pirates have caused commotion during play. Yesterday’s events evoked memories of their abandoned match against Dynamos at Baobab which led to the club getting fined by PSL.
The unruly behaviour of their faithful is becoming a cause for concern and the side is set to be hit by another PSL sanction.
“Without reservations, nobody wants violence,” said Chegutu Pirates assistant coach Godfrey Tamirepi.
“Football is entertainment. We advise them to support the team without being violent, and accept whatever comes out of the game.”
On the flip side, it was a fine afternoon for Manondo, who appears to have rediscovered his scoring form after taking his tally to seven goals yesterday, one goal behind leader Evans Katema of Bikita Minerals.
The former Golden Boot winner evaded his markers inside the box twice to head home the goals for Makepekepe and his coach Lloyd Chitembwe was full of praises at the end of the match.
“I’m happy for him. He has been working so hard in training and at the end of the day if he does what is expected of him it leaves me with nothing but to appreciate his work,” said Chitembwe.
CAPS United had not won in their previous four encounters and yesterday’s result pushed them back into the top half of the log standings where they are now sixth with 22 points.
They made their intentions clear from the onset yesterday, before briefly losing their way.
Chegutu Pirates goalkeeper Tafadzwa Jabangwe made a crucial save as early as the second minute to deny Lot Chiwunga after the veteran CAPS United forward benefitted from a pass through the middle and whipped a low shot on the turn.
Moments later Pirates defender Tinashe Mwafulirwa blocked a grounder from Manondo on the line after the visitors had trouble clearing a brilliant cross into the box by Junior Bunjira.
Although the Green Machine continued to dominate the exchanges, they created few scoring chances. The visitors successfully marked Chiwunga out of the game while veterans Ralph Kawondera and Rodwell Chinyengetere were reduced to more of passengers in the midfield.
Interestingly, centre-back God knows Murwira was the best player on the pitch with his confident play from the back.
But Zaire were getting more free kicks in dangerous areas and CAPS United goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga was called to make a spectacular save from a well-taken set piece by Mwinga just before the breather.
Then Chegutu Pirates’ big striker Cleopas Dube could have punished the hosts after he found himself unmarked inside the box with the last kick of the first half, but he somehow dragged his shot wide with the keeper badly exposed. Chitembwe had to turn to another veteran Devon Chafa at the restart in the place of Kawondera to stabilise the midfield.
But again Chafa, who has not seen much game time lately, had to be taken out later on and replaced by Blessing Sarupinda, who interestingly had a hand in the second goal.
There was a lengthy stoppage after the Green Machine found their opener through Manondo’s header in the 67th minute.
But seven minutes after the restart Zaire were back on level terms. CAPS United again conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position and Mwinga stepped up to take the responsibility. The midfielder this time went for a low strike around the wall to beat diving goalkeeper Mateyaunga. Their celebrations were shortlived, though, as Manondo restored parity at the death.
“It was a decent performance. At the end of the day, it’s not about me. It’s about the team, so I am happy for the team,” said Chitembwe.
Teams:
CAPS United: Tonderai Mateyaunga, Hastings Chapusha, Eric Manokore, Bruce Kangwa, Godknows Murwira, Ralph Kawondera (D. Chafa, 46th min, B. Sarupinda, 90th min), Junior Bunjira, Wayne Makuva (C. Sithole, 90th min), Rodwell Chinyengetere, William Manondo (I. Zambezi, 90th min), Lot Chiwunga.
Chegutu Pirates: Tafadzwa Jabangwe, Tinashe Mwafulirwa, Dexter Phiri, Maxwell Manuvire, Elisha Zulu, Reginald Ngazima (T. Ditima, 69th min), Aaron Dzingai, Gift Mwinga, Russell Mafura (J. Gwara, 70th min), Tinashe Mavhudzi, Cleopas Dube
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