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Innocent Kurira Sports Reporter
Bulawayo Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) (1)
Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) (1)
BULAWAYO Chief’s goalminder Prosper Matutu denied his former paymasters what could have been an easy three points.
Matutu made three crucial saves in the first half that could have sealed maximum points for Highlanders.
The saves, which came from intense successive attacks, were superb.
There was a mark of what any goalkeeper has to do.
The home side owes their goalie a pat on the back for a job well done.
Matutu was first called into action in the 17th minute when Andrew Mbeba sent in a brilliant curling free-kick, which Peter Muduhwa headed.
Alert at goal, Matutu punched it off for a corner.
He went on to produce a brilliant double save for Amakhosi Amahle.
First, he denied Chikuhwa from a header on the near post, off a Mbeba cross before going on to deny the player’s effort from close range.
Matutu’s momentous saves, however, were tainted by the goal scored by Lynoth Chikuhwa who broke the deadlock four minutes to the break with an easy tap, off a corner kick that Chiefs failed to deal with.
The goal came at a time when Bosso fans were calling for the substitution of Chikuhwa who seemed to be out of sorts.
The celebration was short-lived for Highlanders as a couple of minutes later, Mckinnon Mushore brought down Never Rauzhi inside the box and the referee of the day pointed to the spot.
Rauzhi made no mistake from 12 yards out.
However, Matutu made the difference on the day as his blocks saved the day for the Chiefs.
The Bulawayo Chiefs coach said bringing in Matutu was a strategic move.
“That’s the reason why we changed and brought Matutu in, when we went to GreenFuel we were using Tinotenda Chinoviringa but we just thought with the magnitude of the game, we needed someone with experience. You could also see even how he was controlling his defence, in terms of open play, he did a brilliant job,” said Bulawayo Chiefs head coach, Thulani Sibanda.
He added that the result will bring some confidence into his squad.
“It’s a good result for us, it brings a little bit of confidence to the boys as you saw we had to shuffle the team. With that adjustment, l think it’s a good result for us but we were missing a few guys with experience so, I feel maybe with their experience, we could have gotten a different result. We had to manage psychologically with these youngsters such as Nkosiyabo Masilela. It can be a big stage for them but they did well and it was a good game for us,” said Sibanda.
On the other hand, Kelvin Kaindu said it was two points lost for the Highlanders.
“I think it was two points that we lost from our side. Unfortunately, we could have wrapped the game in the first half where we had about four clear-cut chances but at least we are seeing the offensiveness that is there but, unfortunately, we didn’t get the goals but, for us to get a point in a derby which is always a difficult game especially if you play them in the pre-season, it makes it also difficult but all in all, a point is better than nothing.
“Complacency was always going to be our greatest enemy, we looked a bit flat, as much as we tried to keep the ball and play in the opponent’s half, we didn’t come so much to the party,” said Kaindu.
Teams:
Bulawayo Chiefs:
Prosper Matutu (gk), Ciphas Musikavanhu, Emmanuel Chikwende, Xolisani Moyo, Nkosilathi Ncube, Panashe Shoko, Malvin Sithole (Bukhosi Sibanda 67th minute), Never Rauzhi, Malvern Hativagoni, Nkosiyabo Masilele (Mpilwenhle Dube 67th minute), Jameson Masaza
Highlanders:
Ariel Sibanda (gk), Marvelous Chigumira (Brian Mlotshwa 80th minute), Lynoth Chikuhwa (Calvin Chigonero 46th mi-nute), Mckinnon Mushore (Marvin Sibanda 75th minute), Andrew Mbeba, Mason Mushore (Godfrey Makaruse 46th minute), Peter Muduhwa, Reason Sibanda (Honest Mhlanga 52nd minute), Archford Faira, Brighton Ncube, Melikhaya Ncube.
Online Reporter