adminLovemore Zigara Sports Correspondent
Chapungu 2-3 Bantu Rovers
BANTU Rovers will exit the Premiership with something to write home about after becoming the first team to collect maximum points at Ascot Stadium in a long time following a surprise 3-2 win over Chapungu yesterday.
“Tshintsha Guluva” got their goals through Zephaniah Ngodzo, Dalubuhle Moraka and Nqobizitha Masuku while Chapungu replied through Blessing Zabula and a penalty converted by Charles Murisa.
Chapungu came into the match with their home record intact and buoyed by a spirited 1-1 draw against reigning champions Dynamos at the weekend in Harare.
The hosts have themselves to blame for a lifeless performance in the first half which was a pale shadow of a team which gave a solid performance four days ago against Dynamos.
Bantu Rovers created the only meaningful chance in the first half through Obadiah Tarumbwa who did well to beat three defenders but his effort was off the mark with the goalkeeper to beat.
The visitors upped the tempo in the second half and were duly rewarded in the 56th minute when Ngodzo took advantage of a poor clearance by the Chapungu rear guard to rifle home the opener from close range to beat a badly positioned Polite Sibanda in goal for “Waru Waru.”
Rovers were not finished yet as two minutes later they were 2-0 up after Tarumbwa shrugged off the challenge of his marker before whipping in a cross which was connected by Moraka.
Stung by the goal Chapungu slowly crawled back into the match and reduced the arrears through Zabula who latched on to a loose ball in the 68th minute in a goalmouth melee inside the box following a corner by Johnson Mabhugu.
The hosts were on the ascendancy. They found the equaliser after Phillip Marufu had been hacked down by Master Mlangeni in the box and the referee did not hesitate to point to the spot.
Upstepped Murisa to send Bantu Rovers goalie Takunda Mutanga the wrong way to restore parity.
After the goal the hosts retreated into their shell which allowed the visitors to come back at them. It came as no surpise when Bantu Rovers were awarded a penalty in the 85th minute when Chapungu goalie Sibanda failed to deal with a cross.
He desperately pulled Moraka down and the referee awarded the second penalty of the day.
Masuku made no mistake from the spot to separate the two sides.
Winning coach Mandla Mpofu was ecstatic and said his charges were under no pressure.
“I told the boys to go and enjoy the game. We weren’t under any pressure and I’m happy with the victory more so being the first team to beat Chapungu in their own backyard,” he said.
A visibly disappointed John Nyikadzino the Chapungu gaffer blamed complacency for the team’s dismal showing.
“We lost because of complacency and nothing more. It also had to do with match officials who in my view were biased against us because they’re from Bulawayo where Bantu Rovers are based,” he said.
Teams
Chapungu: Polite Sibanda, Johnson Mabhugu, Charles Murisa, Blessing Zabula, William Ngonya, Ngonidzashe Murisa, Maxwell Mavuto, Gift Phiri (Muzire 87th minute), Talent Mwale, Philip Marufu, Calisto Maheya (B Bangira 34th minute)
Bantu Rovers: Takunda Mutanga, Herbert Dick, Lucky Ndlela (Kutinyu 70th minute), Bukhosi Sibanda, Teenage Hadebe, Master Mlangeni, Tarumbwa Obidiah Tarumbwa, Moses Majika, Nqobizitha Masuku, Dalubuhle Moraka
Online Reporter