adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
THEY might have lost Moses Demera, who has made a huge impression in the Premiership, but McDonald Motsi is firing on all cylinders and keeping Gunners’ campaign alive in the Northern Region Division One Soccer League.
Demera left Gunners, after they just failed to secure a ticket into the top-flight league, saying he needed a fresh challenge for his game to grow.
He joined Flame Lily and has made a big impact, scoring some crucial goals for his struggling side, which has even earned him a draft into the Warriors’ squad for the Cosafa Cup.
But his former teammate, Motsi, stayed loyal to the Gunners cause and has been the shining light in his team’s attack, with four goals in six league games.
Motsi was on target in the 1-1 draw against Starbill last Wednesday at Callies and followed that up with another goal in the 2-1 win over ZRP Morris on Saturday.
Not a bad performance for a forward who is playing in a team that is yet to fire on all cylinders with club chief, Cuthbert Chitima, indicating last week that his men need to improve their cutting edge, upfront, and make their presence felt in the final third.
Motsi responded with another goal at the weekend while big forward, Misheck Mburayi, promoted to the first team, was also on target.
Gunners, who are unbeaten in their first six games, are only two points adrift of leaders Ngezi Platinum.
Meanwhile, DStv Rangers coach Newton Chitewe believes they are on the right track despite being held to a goalless draw by a 10-man Mushowani at Old Hararians.
Coming from a 4-1 victory over Herentals last week, DStv Rangers failed to maintain their momentum as they created several chances but could not utilise the opportunities.
Mushowani were reduced to 10 men in the 84th minute when Admire Dzukamanja, who came in as a substitute for Paul Chiramba in the 62nd minute, was given the marching orders by referee Banwell Kauzwe after he elbowed DStv’s Byron Madzokere.
“Considering the team that we were playing, the guys put up a good show, we were playing a good team.
“We came in as the underdogs.”
Mushowani coach, Solomon Mudavanhu, said he was not impressed with the way they applied themselves.
“We created a few chances and we failed to convert. And at the end of the day a draw was a fair result. “But I am not satisfied with the way we performed. Our performance was not up to scratch because we never played our normal play, we are known to be the tiki-taka boys but maybe because of the condition of the pitch it affected our play because it’s a bit bumpy,” Mudavanhu said. Mushowani are currently sitting on third position.
Results:
DStv Rangers 0, Mushowani 0; Karoi United 1, Herentals 2; Cargo Carriers 2, Ngezi Platinum 2; Darwin 1, Lake Harvest 3; Blue Jets 3, Seven Flames 0; Zatex 0, ZRP FC 0; Starbill 0, Black Rhinos 0; ZRP Morris 1, Gunners 2; DC Academy 1, Blue Swallows 2.
Log Table
P W D L F A Pts
Ngezi Platinum 6 4 2 0 15 2 14 Black Rhinos 6 3 3 0 6 1 12 Mushowani 6 3 3 0 6 2 12 Gunners 6 3 3 0 6 3 12 Blue Swallows 6 3 2 1 10 7 11 Herentals 6 3 2 1 10 8 11 DStv Rangers 6 2 3 1 8 9 9 DC Academy 6 2 2 2 6 5 8 Seven Flames 6 2 2 2 6 9 8 Lake Harvest 6 2 1 3 7 5 7 ZRP Football Club 6 1 4 1 3 4 7 Blue Jets 6 1 3 2 8 7 6 Karoi United 6 1 2 3 7 8 5 Cargo Carriers 6 1 2 3 6 9 5 Starbill 6 0 4 2 1 4 4 Darwin United 6 0 3 3 4 9 3
ZRP Morris 6 0 3 3 4 10 3 Zatex 6 0 2 4 0 10 2
Online Reporter