Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda-Zimpapers Sports Hub
TRIANGLE United’s resurgence and strong fight against relegation has not gone without notice with the club’s chiefs endorsing the turnaround plan that has been put in place by coach Genesis “Kaka” Mangombe since his arrival at the Lowveld Premier Soccer League outfit.
After the completion of match-day 16, Triangle sat on 17th place and were a point behind Dynamos, who by then were third from bottom.
The Lowveld side looked like a team destined for a quick return to Division One.
Back then, not many gave Triangle a chance to survive relegation.
But the situation has changed and all of a sudden, Triangle look like a transformed side under Mangombe.
The Sugar Sugar Boys are now four points above Dynamos and just a point away from safety. GreenFuel, who occupy 14th position have 20 points and are tied with 13th -placed Chicken Inn, who are above thanks to a slight superior goal difference.
Triangle moved to 19 points after drawing 1-1 against resurgent CAPS United at Rufaro last weekend. Mangombe’s men failed to protect a 1-0 lead, allowing Makepekepe to find a last-gasp equaliser via returning striker Ishmael Wadi. However, Triangle still managed to preserve their purple patch, spanning seven unbeaten games.
Since their 0-1 loss against Manica Diamonds at Gibbo on May 25, Triangle are yet to taste defeat.
This has given rise to the club management endorsing Mangombe.
Triangle chairman Weston Jemwa, described Mangombe as a shrewd tactician.
“We have spent a lot of time in the relegation zone but we are slowly moving up,” Jemwa said.
“The coach is doing well, he has brought in some consistency.
“Mangombe is a good coach who has managed to stabilise the ship.
“The team is playing some nice football and we are scoring goals.
“We now have a strong chance of moving out of the drop zone,” added Jemwa.
The former Chibuku Super Cup winners have scored 12 goals in their last seven matches, including their biggest win to date this season — a 5-1 thumping of GreenFuel at Gibbo on June 22. They had also beaten bottom-placed Kwekwe United 3-0 in Gweru, three days earlier. Up next for Triangle is a another tough assignment at their favourite hunting ground Gibbo where they face Ngezi Platinum Stars on Saturday. Jemwa and everyone at Triangle will be hoping that Mangombe’s men extend their unbeaten run to eight matches and also close the gap they have with the teams above them.
“We are just taking each game as it comes, hoping to keep on grinding out good results,” Mangombe said. He thinks his side deserved maximum points against CAPS United last Sunday, but accepts that a point away from home was crucial.
“Such is the nature of the game, we will take the point,” he said.
The coach has taken advantage of the mid-season transfer window, adding some experienced players to his squad.
These include former Dynamos captain Partson Jaure and ex-Herentals player Ali Maliselo.
