Online Reporter
Kwekwe United………(0)1
Ngezi Platinum………(1)1
LIKE fine wine that matures with age, Masimba Mambare summoned all his experience to inspire Kwekwe United to an impressive one-all draw against Ngezi Platinum Stars at Bata Stadium in Gweru yesterday.
The veteran winger scored a goal in the second half to cancel out Ashwin Karengesha’s first half strike for Madamburo and earn a valuable point for Kwekwe United on their Castle Lager Premier League debut.
Ngezi Platinum will, however, rue the missed chances in the first half as they should have wrapped up the match.
Kwekwe United coach, Saul Chaminuka was happy with how his side made an impression on their first match in the top flight.
“I think it was a good result but it is a game we should have taken, in the first half we were jittery but after we spoke to the boys we started playing well,” he said.
“After the equaliser, we could have scored two or three but I am happy with a point. It is important that you don’t lose your first match of the season, especially if you are a new team.
“It gives us something to work on going into our next matches, I am happy with my boys; they did well today. It was a great performance.”
Ngezi Platinum Stars coach, Takesure Chiragwi decried the missed chances in the first half.
“Generally, in the first half we were in control and we were supposed to carry the day with the chances that we had. It is the first game of the season and the boys are not up to their best, there is a lot to make sure the boys get into the groove,” Chiragwi said.
“After missing chances, the second half was a different affair, the coming in of Mambare was the difference, he is a clever player, with his passes in between the lines and creativity, we struggled to cope.”
Ngezi Platinum Stars made a bright start to the match pinning their opponents in their own half for the greater part of the first half.
They, however, failed to turn their dominance into goals, as the hosts’ defence marshalled by 2014 Soccer Star of the year, Denis Dauda struggled to cope with the pace of the match.
Talent Chamboko came close to giving Madamburo the lead when his headed effort went wide after being set up by a lively Obriel Chirinda inside the first five minutes.
Ngezi Platinum would, however, take the lead 10 minutes into the match when Karengesha rifled a low shot past Kwekwe United goalkeeper, Elton Nechiware.
After the goal, the former league champions could have increased their lead but struggled for potency in front of goal.
Half-time substitute, Mambare injected life into the home side’s play with some incisive passes.
He came close to levelling matters but his effort was thwarted by Ngezi Platinum goalkeeper, Darlington Murasiranwa.
The youthful goal-minder was called into action moments later when he denied Leeroy Saungweme’s blistering shot from distance.
Kwekwe United kept tightening the screws and got their reward midway through the half, courtesy of Mambare’s header on the near side.
The former Dynamos and Highlanders winger, nearly turned provider when he threaded a delightful pass to Hillary Bakacheza, but the latter was let down by his first touch, resultantly making a tame effort at goal.
On the other end, Chirinda forced Nechiware into a save in the dying minutes.
Agrippa Murimba should have buried the match with the last kick of the match but blazed his effort over the bar after a clever counter attack by Kwekwe. In the end, a point was all the sides could settle for.
TEAMS:
Kwekwe United: E Nechiware, A Taruvinga,L Saungweme, D Dauda, S Chaminuka Jnr, E Mutimbanyoka,T January( T Muzenda 68th minute, H Bakacheza, A Gahadzikwa, R Muchara(M Mambare 46th minute), A Murimba.
Ngezi Platinum: D Murasiranwa, P Moyo, L Kashitigu, B Mashonganyika, Q Amin(M Gaki 46th minute), R Hachiro,M Mukumba,T Chamboko (T Mavhudzi 71st minute), T Benhura(Ngwena 63rd minute), O Chirinda, A Karengesha(T Ditima 86th minute)
Colletta Dube