Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TRIANGLE United are buzzing and it’s all sweet in the lowveld, days after the Sugar Sugar Boys posted one of their biggest victories in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
Genesis Mangombe’s side are fresh from a 5-1 dismantling of GreenFuel at Gibbo, a result that lifted them from second from bottom into 15th on the 18-team log table and boosted their morale ahead of an interesting fixture against Scottland at the same venue on Sunday.
When they click, Triangle can be ruthless, especially at Gibbo, where they have posted some big wins since 2013, when they made their Premiership debut under the late Gishon “Gizha” Ntini.
They have scored five times in a game on five occasions at Gibbo, but their biggest win remains the 6-0 obliteration of WhaWha at their favourite hunting ground on May 10, 2015.
Triangle also walloped Dongo Sawmills 5-1 that season.
In 2018, Triangle thumped Shabanie Mine 5-0 at their base before hammering army side Cranborne Bullets 5-2 in another high-scoring league encounter.
Last week, it was the turn of GreenFuel to bear testimony to the destruction that Triangle can cause when they are at their lethal best.
That humiliating defeat by GreenFuel cost gaffer Taurayi Mangwiro his job with the veteran coach being reassigned into what is by Zimbabwean standards, a largely ceremonial technical director’s post.
Yet Triangle stuttered their way into the 2025 campaign, losing their opening four matches during a topsy-turvy first half of the season.
They are, however, slowly finding their feet under Mangombe and are unbeaten in their last four matches and have significantly scored 10 goals in their last three assignments.
Triangle drew 2-2 against MWOS at Gibbo before thumping Kwekwe United 3-0 at Bata in Gweru.
They went a gear up notching five past GreenFuel.
Now only a point separates Triangle and Chicken Inn, who occupy the last spot above the relegation zone.
“It’s always encouraging and good to win with a big margin especially when playing a well-organised team like GreenFuel.
“We had done our homework in terms of how we lined up and what we wanted to achieve on that day.
“The response from the boys was perfect,” said Mangombe, who replaced Luke Masomere on April 19.
Mangombe was until just before the start of the season, the Scottland coach.
He will now face them at Gibbo on Sunday, for the first time since his unceremonious departure via an intended demotion into Scottland’s Northern Region Soccer League franchise, N’ombeyawora in January.
When Scottland edged Triangle 1-0 in the season opener on February 28, it was Masomere who was still in charge of the Sugar Sugar Boys.
Since Mangombe’s arrival, Triangle have found their groove.
And Mangombe reckons that his knowledge of Scottland could work in Triangle’s favour.
“I believe it’s not going to be difficult playing against Scottland, because I know everything, most of the players I know, some of them are high profile and easy to spy on,” Mangombe told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“I was once there at Scottland and playing against your former paymasters is always interesting.
“It would be nice to see how they have progressed, the changes to the technical team, and how they are doing their things.
“But we already know how they do their things.
“So, I am really confident we will spring a surprise in this game. We will actually collect points in this game,” declared Mangombe.
Under the former Yadah Stars and Dynamos coach, Triangle have played 11 winning four and lost as many while three ended in draws to amass 15 points out of a possible 33, which translates to a 45 percent success rate for Mangombe.
Before Mangombe’s appointment, Triangle had failed to win in six outings, only registering one point out of a possible 18 — a poor 5.6 success rate.
“We are seeing signs of improvement now.”
Mangombe intends to beef up his squad when the mid-season transfer window opens next week.
“If the team wins and the winning bonuses are coming then everyone wants to play. So, there’s competition for jerseys and it’s healthy.
“Now that we are focusing on the next assignment, it is a drive in itself.
“It’s now a return leg, we lost against them in Harare, this time around we are facing them at Gibbo and at the right time as we have picked up form.
“It’s not going to be easy for Scottland,” dared Mangombe.
He, however, acknowledges that his side will be the underdogs against a star-studded and fourth-placed Scottland.
“We just want to prove a point that we are also a team to reckon with.
“Of late, everyone is pushing to be included in the team.
“We are collecting maximum points and the team is scoring goals which means there are a lot of positives there.”
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