Harare City miss top prize

Grace Chingoma
Sports Reporter
CAPS United . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2)2
Harare City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1)2
HARARE City coach Bigboy Mawiwi could only manage to say “championships are won by men’’ after watching his side display a disjointed performance and fail to come to the party against CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
As his players were in tears failing to believe that they had indeed surrendered the trophy to Dynamos their mentor summoned some courage, remained a bit composed as he gave an interview before rushing to the dressing room to console his players.

“It’s unfortunate. It is the cruel world of football. I was telling these youngsters right through the week that they were not under pressure at all. They had to be composed and play our normal game which we didn’t do especially in the first half. The youngsters were under pressure today (yesterday) and I don’t know where that was coming from.

“There was no organisation especially in the first 20 minutes. We had this game to wrap it ourselves. The players are still young I will talk to them so that they recover from this,” said Mawiwi.

Mawiwi said they made some mistakes in the game but paid tribute to his players for taking the title race to the wire.

“We made several mistakes it cost us today especially the marking on the right back where we conceded those soft goals from the crosses.

“Naturally I am happy for the job well done by the youngsters because the league race is a marathon. It is only our second year in the league and they (players) have done very well.

“I know the areas we need to beef up and I am going to do that. The championship is won by men and unfortunately for us we didn’t come to the party today. We are still learning, we will regroup and work on those areas,” Mawiwi said.

The Sunshine Boys coach cast an uneasy figure on the touchline as he kept on checking his time when goals were being scored but insisted “it was all part of tactical work’’.

Harare City also clearly missed the servicers of their Warriors midfielder Silas Songani but Mawiwi refused to believe that the Zimbabwe international’s absence had cost them the match.

“We always play as a team. We have won some matches without him (Songani) when he was on national duty but of course we dearly missed him. But we did our best with the resources we had,” said Mawiwi.

Harare City found the target first in the 16th minute when William Manondo scored. But when the Sunshine Boys were still celebrating CAPS United equalised the following minute via Dominic Chungwa who received a cross from Tawanda Nyamandwe.

CAPS United striker Nyamandwe then put his team ahead in the 25th minute when he found the target from a crowded box. CAPS United were now on song dictating the pace and were clearly enjoying the proceedings at the giant facility against an out of sorts City.

But Harare City fought back and levelled the terms in the 58th minute when substitute Godfrey Nguwodzawo received a fine delivery from forward Martin Vengesayi.

However, the crucial winning goal that would have rendered irrelavant results from Rufaro and Barbourfields remained elusive and even though CAPS United appeared to have slackened a bit in the second period attempts from City players such as Crybert Muvuti and Vengesayi failed to yield anything. The absence of Harare City defender Crispen Dickson and Songani was felt as the team appeared lost. Songani who was nominated as one of the soccer star finalists on Saturday had his joy cut short.

“I am happy that I was recognised as one of the best players but I am hurt with the draw. I am in pain. We were supposed to win but football is football. I don’t know God, maybe if I had played I could have made a difference. The whole team is in pain and I don’t think we will recover from this. This was our time to win the league,” said Songani. The midfielder said he might have another dance with the team next season before considering moving.

CAPS United coach Taurai Mangwiro said he was happy with the way they played but was only disappointed that they could not win the match.

“We had said we want to win it for ourselves so that we secure a possible top four finish. Unfortunately we couldn’t defend our half time lead.

“But at the end of it all, we gave it a fight and have to be content with what we achieved.

“The season has been competitive, it is healthy for the league it shouldn’t be one sided. I had told my players 54 points could see us home we failed to get them and at the end of it we have ourselves to blame.

“A team like Dynamos having lost a number of matches still goes on to win the league. It was also exciting going into the last round with six teams fighting for relegation,” said Mangwiro. Mangwiro who is always accused of a soft spot for his former team Dynamos said during play he was not even in the picture of what was going on at other venues.

“I am actually surprised to hear that Dynamos have won during the match we didn’t get to hear results from other centres,” Mangwiro said.

Teams:
CAPS United: T. Dube, B. Zabula, R. Pfumbidzai (M. Chinemboza 81st minute), D. Mukandi, S. Makatuka, G. Phiri (D. Rediyoni 67th minute), M. Muchenje, B. Maglasi (T. Gonzo 72 nd minute), D. Chungwa, H. Zvirekwi, T. Nyamandwe:
Harare City: M. Nyamupangedengu, M. Nyenye, W. Nyamutsaka, D. Kutyauripo, T Chiworeso, J. Jam, W. Manondo, N. Ziwini, M. Vengesayi (O. Mukuradare 80th minute), C. Muvuti (R. Uchena 74th minute), T. Chawapiwa (G. Nguwodzawo 56th minute).