adminBASEMENT club Kiglon’s woes in the Castle Premier Soccer League continued yesterday when they failed to collect maximum against Black Mambas in a dull encounter at Morris Depot.
Kiglon who had hoped to use this outstanding fixture to start their glide out of relegation still anchor the log table with 18 points while Mambas are now 12th with 25 points.
Given the two sides’ predicament, an explosive battle had been expected at Morris Depot but the game fizzled into a big yawn with very little in the players’ body language to suggest that their lives depended on the result.
It was even worse for the Kiglon players who gave a poor advertisement for the top-flight as they had to walk their way back into town from Morris Depot with their club failing to provide a bus for them.
Kiglon had made their way to the game on a commuter omnibus, which one of the players is understood to have paid for, and that certainly is a sign of the tough times that have befallen the Chitungwiza outfit who last won in Week 9.
Their assistant coach Rodwell Dhlakama conceded that they are now feeling the heat but blamed missed chances for yesterday’s draw.
“The pressure is now mounting on the players judging by our position on the log. We failed to convert chances especially in the last quarter of the game when we were on top of the situation.
“We are not picking up points that is our major concern now. Because if you keep on not winning you are bound to be relegated,” said Dhlakama.
Mambas coach John “Toto” Ncube felt that while it is regrettable to drop points at home “it was rather a point picked against fellow troubled team”.
“We didn’t play well today, maybe it was complacency after a big victory away in Masvingo. But it is better for us to pick a point which is very important in the relegation battle,” said Ncube.
The match began with the visitors threatening with former Dynamos midfielder Bernard Bvumbwe Benesi visible but the only meaningful chance for Kiglon was Yves Ebabali’s 42nd minute bicycle kick that, however, failed to beat the goalkeeper.
In the second period Black Mambas returned a rejuvenated lot and a minute after the breather striker Sebastian Mutizirwa was too slow when he received a loose ball in the box with keeper to beat.
Online Reporter