LODZA BLAMES PITCH

Bruce Chikuni

CAPS United boss, Lloyd Chitembwe, feels the condition of Baobab made it difficult for his men to play their normal game.

They stumbled to a goalless draw against Ngezi Platinum Stars in a Castle Lager Premiership fixture on Saturday.

The Green Machine played second fiddle to the hosts but found a way to pick a point.

The hosts dominated the proceedings in both halves and with a bit of luck on their side, they could have beaten the Green Machine.

Anchorman Marvelous Mukumba bullied the CAPS United crew of Devon Chafa and Blessing Sarupinda in the midfield battle with a fine performance.

Winger Walter Vuwa also gave Godknows Murirwa a torrid time with his pace and whipped in some good crosses.

But, all that counted to nothing as defender Kelvin Madzongwe remained firm at the heart of Makepekepe’s defence.

It means the Harare giants have now picked four points out of a possible six.

And, it was the second draw for the hosts in their Castle Lager Premiership campaign.

Chitembwe said he was pleased with the clean sheet insisting that the playing surface affected their game.

The Green Machine also kept a clean sheet in their first game.

“I’m very happy that we are now shifting our focus to our third game of the season without conceding.

“The state of the pitch made it very difficult for us to get the much desired result, like what I have always said, we are a possession-based team.

“And, when you’re in control of the possession, you are able to create movement, necessary angles and passing and it’s unfortunate that we couldn’t do that today because the pitch is in a very bad state,” said Chitembwe.

Ngezi Platinum Stars were left to rue their failure to bury fine chances as their offensive unit took turns to miss the target.

Coach Takesure Chiragwi said he accepted the point.

“There’s nothing that I’m feeling but what I know is there is no coach who comes prepared for what we saw today but if you get a point, it’s something you need to accept.

“It’s normal in football that we have now managed two draws in two fixtures and it’s one of the results in football and we take it as it is,” said Chiragwi.