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Bruce Chikuni
YOUTHFUL Zimbabwean forward, Douglas Mapfumo finally broke the duck when grabbed his first goal in the South African Premier Soccer League over the weekend.
Mapfumo who endured an indifferent start to life in South Africa in the last two years has vowed to revive his career after signing for Polokwane City during the off-season.
On Saturday he was in fine form as he not only scored in the 61st minute for his maiden goal for Polokwane City but also provided an assist as Rise and Shine powered to a 3-1-win over Cape Town Spurs at Peter Mokaba.
According to reports from South Africa a brace by Oswin Appollis helped Polokwane City secure their second win on the bounce.
Interestingly Mapfumo who capped a good day’s work in the office and assisted Appollis for his opening goal, has featured in both games that Polokwane City have won.
He missed their season opener which Rise and Shine lost to Cape Town City, due to work permit issues that were still being finalised.
The Legends Football Academy graduate had earlier told Zimpapers Sports that he was keen on kick-starting his career in the South African Premiership after injuries and loss of form blighted his time with Cape Town City.
On Saturday he opened his Supa Diski account in only his second game for Polokwane City and yesterday he revealed his excitement at “getting the monkey off his back”.
Mapfumo is hopeful the goal he scored will ease some pressure off him.
“It’s always difficult to get your first goal and it’s something which was bothering me because I did not want to go for that long without being on the scoresheet.
“Now I can say it has brought some relief and I can now concentrate on helping the team without any pressure,” Mapfumo said.
“As a striker you have to score to enjoy the environment and it also gives you the hunger to get more goals.
“I’m happy with this start, we have now won two games in a row and it shows we are going somewhere as a club.”
Despite his family being in Zimbabwe, Mapfumo says he has remained focussed on the Polokwane duties.
“Here I’m just alone, my family and friends are a bit far away and I think that’s the environment that can help me to remain focused for now. “I love my family, they have been there for me and without them I could have not made it this far.
“I think knowing that I’m carrying their hopes and they are expecting me to be at the top is what pushes me to the limits. I would not want to disappoint them now,” he said.
It has also been a promising start for the quintet of Washington Arubi, George Chigova, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Terence Dzvukamanja and Onisimo Bhasera.
Their team SuperSport United are still to concede a goal in three starts.
But, only Pfumbidzai and Dzvukamanja made the starting team when SuperSport United edged Cape Town City 1-0 on Friday.
They have now racked in seven points from the available nine.
Arubi was an unused substitute while veteran Bhasera and Chigova were conspicuous by their absence from the Match-Day squad.
Bhasera looks to set to make some cameo appearances this season as SuperSport also prepare him for a post-playing career at the club.
Chigova has had to contend with watching action from the terraces as he awaits a determination of his fate by doctors.
The giant ex-Zimbabwe and Dynamos goalkeeper was diagnosed with a heart ailment earlier this season and will now need expert advice and more tests to determine his future.
There was something to smile about at last too for former SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo in the Premiership.
Tembo’s Richards Bay stemmed their losing start to life in the Premiership when they picked their first point in the top-flight off a goalless draw against AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida on Saturday night.
It was also the first time that Richards Bay had kept a clean sheet having previously lost 2-0 to SuperSport before falling 2-1 to Golden Arrows.
Tembo’s men were quick to get in front of goal in the early stages and Thobani Mthembu had two good chances after 20 minutes but was denied in the box by shot-stopper Veli Mothwa in quick succession.
Online Reporter