Five out of five for Herentals

Neville Dube
Sports Reporter

Herentals U-20 ………. (1) 2

CUMA …………..……….. 0

THEIR senior side might be struggling in the Premiership, but Herentals Under-20 are surely making a statement in the Northern Region Division One league.

The Students kept their perfect start to the season when they stretched their unbeaten run to five games.

Yesterday, they welcomed Kadoma outfit CUMA at the National Sports Stadium’s B arena, where goals either side of the break by Tinashe Mupumha in the 23rd minute and James Jim after 63 minutes secured maximum points.

Herentals now sit on top of the pile with 15 points.

They are also yet to concede a goal in 450 minutes of Division One action.

In yesterday’s game, the hosts found a breakthrough after Mupumha blasted in a free-kick following a foul on Tanaka Dhlakama.

Jim then ensured it was to be another fruitful outing when he pounced on a counter attack.

Herentals coach Celestino Benza expressed satisfaction with the way his charges have been applying themselves.

“For this year we are very happy, especially considering the fact that we had some disturbances due the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We started very well and, as of now, we are still maintaining a clean sheet while managing to score.

“As we said last week, we are going to try to maintain the clean sheets and keep on scoring — that is how you win games,” said Benza.

Despite the defeat, CUMA coach Gift Raiva was pleased with the way his side played.

CUMA are owned by former Chapungu, Dynamos and Mamelodi Sundowns striker Cuthbert Malajila.

“We lost to a good side.

“I am just starting a new team and it is very young … They are coming from the Under-20s and Under-18.

“Basically, I was happy with my goalkeeper. I think we allowed them to get into the game too much, especially on the first goal; it was a bit far away.

“I am happy with our performance, especially in the second half,” said Raiva.

There was drama, however, when referee Terence Mharira stopped Herentals from making their fourth substitution, but the match commissioner, Tegere Mudarikwa, had to explain the reasons to the animated Herentals technical bench.