adminNgqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
Bantu Rovers………………………………………… 0
Chiredzi United ……………………………….. (2) 2
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League newcomers Chiredzi collected their first set of three points after overpowering Bantu Rovers at Luveve Stadium yesterday afternoon with coach Moses Chunga watching from the terraces.
David Mutemwanjera turned the hero for the Lowveld side as he scored a brace to give Chiredzi their first win of the season in the elite league. A goal in the 15th and 44th minute gave the new boys a well deserved victory as they dominated a disjointed Bantu from the first minute.
Assistant coach Dzingai Muringe was ecstatic after the win saying it would give his team the impetus they need to start winning more games.
Chunga refused to divulge why he was not on the bench while Muringe declined to comment on the issue saying it was an administrative issue at the club.
“The hard work that we have been doing has finally paid off, we have been playing well all along but we have been conceding silly goals and failing to find the back of the nets.
“The win feels good and I think it is deserved as the boys played according to plan and we dominated the midfield for the better part of the match. I think going forward it is a morale booster for the team and we can start winning more games from now on,” he said.
Bantu Rovers seemed a pale shadow of the team that beat Chapungu last week and seemed disjointed from the start, missing several chances including a penalty fluffed by Obadiah Tarumbwa in the 55th minute.
Chiredzi quickly turned their dominance into a goal in the 15th minute, as they attacked with Malvern Gaki finding Mutemwanjera inside the box and he obligingly lobbed the ball into the nets after beating Brighton Chipula who was in between the posts for Bantu.
The home team could have levelled the scores in the 28th minute when there was a scramble in Chiredzi’s goal area after a corner from Lawson Nkomo but the ball fell onto Proud Zireni’s feet and he hit it over the bar when there was ample space for him to equalise.
Thandazani Ndlovu also came agonisingly close to scoring for Bantu when his speculative shot from the left flank hit the crossbar.
Mutemwanjera got his second goal with a header, in the 44th minute, after his team had won a corner kick that was taken by Rowan Nenzou.
Tshintsha Guluva piled on the pressure in the second half and won a penalty following a handball in the box only for Tarumbwa to fail to beat Chiredzi keeper Simon Kapfitire.
The home side received an indirect free kick about three metres away from Chiredzi’s goal line but they failed to convert the chance as Nqobizitha Masuku’s shot hit the wall after having received the ball from Sizalobuhle Dube. Lucky Nyathi’s shot from the rebound did not pose any threat for the visitors.
Tarumbwa could have pulled one back in injury time after a solo run from the middle of the park but his shot from inside the box was punched away by an outstretched Kapfitire.
Bantu Rovers head coach Methembe Ndlovu acknowledged his team was under pressure from the first whistle and after being one nil down they failed to get back into the game.
“I think it is one of those days when nothing seems to be working. It just wasn’t our day, even the early substitution we made in the first half when Emberton Tshuma came in for Tatenda Magaisa failed to pay off.
“I would like to congratulate Chiredzi for their win and we are now focusing on our next game,” he said.
Online Reporter