Online Reporter
Onward Gangata,[email protected]
GWANDA Pirates slipped further behind in the race for promotion from the Central Region Soccer League after suffering a 1-0 defeat away to Shabanie Mine on Sunday.
Having dropped points in midweek following a 1-1 draw against Blanket Mine in the Gwanda derby, Pirates were desperate to return to winning ways.
However, a second-half strike from Arnold Mutati dealt a blow to Ezimnyama Ngenkani’s promotion hopes.
The defeat leaves them in fifth place, seven points adrift of league leaders Chapungu, who edged Grain Tigers 1-0 at
Ascot on the same day.
Gwanda Pirates coach Johannes Ngodzo conceded that his side had been outmanoeuvred by the Chinda Boys.
The former Highlanders and Warriors midfielder, however, believes his team needs to improve both its finishing and mental resilience.
“It was a difficult game, credit to the Shabanie Mine technical team, their game plan was spot on. Our players didn’t come to the party. We have to work on our finishing, in the past few games we have been good in the box but we have to work on our finishing.
“The games are coming thick and fast, Thursday we have another game and we have to work on that but time is running away. We also need to psyche up the boys because it seems they are not used to defeats.”
Elsewhere, Luke Jukulile-Petros’ Blanket Mine kept their title challenge firmly on track with a 2-0 home victory over Sabi Gold Mine.
The win lifted Blanket Mine into second place on 29 points, three behind leaders Chapungu, who sit at the summit with 32 points.
Kwekwe United were held to a goalless draw at home by Tongogara in a fiercely contested derby at Baghdad Stadium.
The Tendai Chikuni-coached outfit now occupy third place on 27 points.
Results
Chapungu 1-0 Grain Tigers, Shabanie Mine 1-0 Gwanda Pirates, Blanket Mine 2-0 Sabi Gold Mine, Matobo 0-2 FC
Platinum U19, MSU 1-2 Super Strikers, West Nicholson 2-0 Shurugwi, Kwekwe United 0-0 Tongogara, Good
Morning 1-0 ZRP Gwanda, Dulibadzimu 2-2 Vhembe Stars Academy
