tawandamusarurwa
Don Makanyanga Sports Reporter
Herentals ……………… (1) 2
ZPC Kariba ……………. (1) 1
ON-FIRE forward Tafadzwa Jimu scored his fourth goal in five matches as Herentals picked up their first win of the season at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Jimu scored the goal that made the difference a minute into the second half after Moses Demera had cancelled out an early and rare goal from Herentals defender Godfrey Mukambi.
Demera levelled for ZPC Kariba after 34 minutes.
Herentals coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva, who admitted the winless streak was beginning to impact on his players, was naturally happy with the maximum points.
“In football, you always want to win all your matches and if you don’t, you start feeling the pressure.
“The pressure had begun to mount and I am happy that we finally got off the mark,” he said.
“This was not the best performance but the result is what matters most, as it brings the confidence among the players.
“We are hoping to build from this result going forward.”
ZPC Kariba coach Darlington Dodo blamed the loss on time wasting.
“In terms of our game, we were not as bad but we were as good as we wanted to be.
“We conceded the way we had not expected. Nevertheless, we worked and regrouped, got an equaliser but again we thought we could have a flowing game . . .
“But, unfortunately, how could we play a second half with players sleeping on the pitch and feigning injuries?” said Dodo.
Herentals showed hunger from the first whistle and were unlucky not to get an opener inside the first five minutes.
The hosts’ first attempt at goal came as early as the second minute when Milton Chimedza saw his long-range effort being parried away by Tapiwa Chilenga.
Despite wasting three opportunities inside the opening minutes, the hosts found the opener in the eighth minute, when Mukambi came to the end of a Prince Chama corner-kick.
This was Chama’s fourth assist of the current campaign.
But the moment of the half came in the 26th minute, when 51-year-old Innocent Benza nutmegged Collen Muleya, much to the delight of a small but appreciative crowd.
Although they fell behind early in the match, ZPC Kariba maintained their game plan and continued to dominate possession.
Online Reporter