Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi-Zimpapers Sports Hub
Herentals . . . . .(2) 3
Kwekwe Utd . . . (1) 1
STRUGGLING Premiership debutants Kwekwe United are increasingly becoming predictable as prospects of relegation are getting a reality by each passing game.
The Midlands side yesterday succumbed to their 17th defeat in 24 games, against Herentals at Rufaro. No other team has lost as many games in the league and this defeat added to their relegation woes.
Herentals got their goals from first half substitute John Zhuwau, Kundai Sangare and Prince Mahembe while Proud Gorekore scored the consolation after 32 minutes.
But the alarm bells are ringing even louder for Kwekwe United, who remained rooted at the bottom of the log table with nine points from 24 games.
With one win to show at this stage of the season, Kwekwe United’s slide towards the edge continued as they have lost their last five games in succession, at a time they desperately need the points to ease their worries.
Herentals on the other hand continued on their upward trajectory as they moved one place up into the top six with 38 points.
Despite suffering an early setback with the injury to their captain after playing only three minutes, the Students still managed to reorganise themselves, with veteran Ralph Kawondera taking over the captain’s armband.
The injury-induced substitution nonetheless turned to be a blessing in disguise as the replacement Zhuwau opened the scoring after just 19 minutes of football action from a header at the back post.
Zhuwau jumped the highest in a crowded box following a corner kick to beat goalkeeper Tausand Chapwanya, who had earlier own made some fine saves to keep the scores unchanged.
But his defence let him down by not tracking Zhuwau in the box as Tinashe Mupumha delivered the corner kick.
However, Kwekwe United managed to come back into the game with a 32nd minute equaliser from Gorekore, who struck with a brilliant free-kick over the wall, which gave diving goalkeeper Tariq Ngwenya no chance.
Herentals, however, managed to reclaim their lead just before the half time break as Sangare ghosted in from the blind side to bury a deflected cross from Prince Mayembe.
Interestingly, Herentals’ owner and forward Innocent Benza yesterday lasted the whole match. The 54-year-old striker is the oldest in the league.
As usual Benza yesterday did not do much in terms of covering space, but his intermittent flicks and unpredictable moves made his presence on the pitch noticeable.
Herentals conceded another free-kick on a dangerous position on the 55th minute but Ngwenya this time was alert as he went airborne to meet Gorekore’s freekick that was meant for the top corner.
But Mahembe killed off the game in the still added to Herentals’ tally in the 61st minute after taking advantage of poor defending by the visitors.
