Khama shines again!

Zimpapers Sports Hub

KHAMA BILLIAT seems determined to not only silence his critics, but also justify calls for his return to the Warriors fold.

Billiat was adjudged man of the match after scoring and providing an assist as Yadah stunned Highlanders 2-0 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Heart Stadium yesterday.

It was Billiat’s sixth goal and fourth assist for the season.

Fans who braved the cold weather at the Heart Stadium were treated to some good football by both teams. They played an entertaining brand and the fans had no complaints over the hike in entry charges.

The match was played at an electrifying pace, with the fans having to watch on the edge of their seats as both teams displayed a good brand of football.

At the end, it was Yadah who got the better of their opponents with goals from Jerry Chipangura and Billiat in either half of the match. Chipangura gave the hosts the lead on the half-hour mark when he received a pass from Billiat before unleashing a powerful volley, beating Reward Muza in goal for Highlanders.

Highlanders came close to restoring parity five minutes before the break when Brighton Ncube saw his free header missing the target by a few inches.

A minute into added time of the first half, Chipangura could have increased the hosts’ lead when he came face to face with Muza, but the Highlanders stand-in goalie was equal to the task as he denied the Yadah forward his brace.

Highlanders were to launch the last raid of the first half from a clearance, and were unlucky not to restore parity as Devine Mhindiririra saw his effort being saved by Marshal Takarinda before the ball crashed onto the cross bar for a corner-kick.

Three minutes after the break, Yadah increased their lead through Billiat after coming to an end of a Nadolo assist.

From then on, it was a case of missed chances by both teams, with Muza being the busiest goalkeepers of the two.

Despite being happy with the result, Yadah coach, Thomas Ruzive, felt the
two-nil scoreline was not the best representation of the proceedings.

He thought his charges could have gotten more goals.

“It was a good performance from the boys and I am happy with how they played, but in all honesty, I feel we should have scored more goals,” he said.

“We are creating a lot of chances which we are not converting and this is something which is worrying.”

Highlanders coach Kevin Kaindu blamed his strikers for the loss.

“It is a painful defeat for us because after winning last week, we felt that we are back to winning ways, but it was not to be the case,” he said.

“I feel we should have taken advantage of the numerous chances that came our way. Our conversion is something we need to work on.”

At Baobab Stadium, Obriel Chirinda scored his third successive goal since getting his licence to play for Ngezi Platinum Stars as the champions beat CAPS United 3-2 in the absence of coach Takesure Chiragwi, who is away with the Warriors at the Cosafa Cup in South Africa.

Despite starting on the substitute bench for the third straight game, Chirinda was introduced in the 36th minute and took just six minutes to put Ngezi Platinum 2-1 up. New signing Never Tigere scored his debut goal for Ngezi Platinum in the 54th minute to give the hosts a 3-1 lead.

Moses Demera had given Ngezi Platinum the lead after 23 minutes, while double scorer Hastings Chapusha equalised in the 28th minute.

Chapusha ensured a tense finish with an 89th minute goal, but Ngezi Platinum held on for a fifth successive win.

Ngezi Platinum stay third on 30 points from 17 matches.

At Wadzanai Stadium, defender Roland Likilipa Kangadzi scored the only goal of the afternoon as Simba Bhora beat ZPC Kariba to stay fourth with 30 points from 17 matches.

At Luveve Stadium, former leaders Manica Diamonds stumbled to another goalless draw, this time against Bulawayo Chiefs. On numerous occasions, the hosts seemed they would utilise the chances they got after catching the visitors on the break, but they squandered all of those opportunities. The chief culprits were Miguel Feldman, Leroy Ndlovu and Nkosiyabo Masilela, who managed to get into good positions, but could not hit the net.

The visitors, on the other hand, enjoyed much of the ball, but could not turn their dominance into goals.

Bulawayo Chiefs coach Thulani Sibanda felt this was a game they could have won.

Manica Diamonds had a depleted technical team as head coach Jairos Tapera is with the Warriors at the Cosafa Cup tournament, while assistant coach Tafadzwa Mashiri had a bereavement to attend to, leading to Patrick Mandizha taking charge of the game. Mandizha said a point away from home was not bad.

Former Warriors striker Kudakwashe Mahachi was introduced late in the game, with Mandizha saying they were battling to return him to full fitness.