Online Reporter
Alberto Chamwadoro-Zimpapers Sports Hub
HERENTALS coach Paul Benza walked away from Mandava Stadium with more than three points yesterday.
He finally got one over Joel Luphahla.
Liyeto Dreamer’s first-half strike handed the Students a hard-fought 1-0 victory over FC Platinum in a result Benza described as “sweet revenge”.
The decisive moment arrived in the 36th minute when FC Platinum defender Nickson Nyasulu completely missed a routine clearance inside the box. Dreamer reacted quickest, pouncing on the loose ball to beat goalkeeper Raphael Pitisi.
It was a costly mistake.
Pitisi had gone 485 minutes without conceding a league goal, but Dreamer’s intervention ended that streak and ultimately settled a tense afternoon at Mandava.
The result left Herentals third on the log with 28 points.
For FC Platinum, it was another painful reminder of a problem that has followed them throughout the campaign, creating chances but failing to convert them.
“It is disappointing to lose at home, but it is even more disappointing to lose the game in the manner that we did. I think we could have wrapped this game up in the first half, where we had a lot of good chances that we did not convert,” said coach Luphahla.
Benza was satisfied.
“Definitely a sweet victory, especially considering that we won 1-0. That means the game was very tense, but it was also very exciting,” he said.
“We are also happy because we managed to get revenge for the six points we lost to Coach Luphahla last year, even though he was at Simba Bhora back then.”
Chaminuka considers TelOne exit
At AScot Onward Gangata, reports that TelOne coach Saul Chaminuka was seriously considering taking his team away from their homeground after another painful home defeat.
Yesterday’s 1-0 loss to Agama was TelOne’s eighth straight home defeat of the season, a statistic that has become impossible to ignore.
Just two minutes before the break, a defensive mix-up between Eriya Mafirenyika and Admire Dzumbunu handed Agama striker Ralph Nyamupurika an opportunity he gladly accepted.
“I think that is the general feeling of the whole team, players and myself included. We need to get away from this pitch and play our football elsewhere,” said Chaminuka.
“The funny thing is that we are dropping points at home, but when we go away, the boys play well. What is happening here is something else.”
For Agama, it was a smash-and-grab victory that coach Godfrey Tamirepi accepted.
“It’s good that we got all the points,” said Tamirepi.
“We had a slow start to the game but we managed to recover and beat them on the counter to get that goal. “In the second half they threw everything at us but we managed to hold on and get the win.”
The result gives Agama breathing space while TelOne are left searching for answers.
Simba Bhora, Triangle share spoils
At Wadzanayi, Veronica Gwaze reports Simba Bhora will have to wait longer to bounce back to winning ways after sharing spoils in a 1-1 draw with Triangle.
Coming off a heavy 4-1 bashing by Herentals away, the former champions appeared to play with all the intent and intensity from the onset.
The Shamva-based side came in with their traditional 3-5-2 formation which largely relied on Ishmael Nyanhi and Claude Mapoka upfront while they dominated possession in the middle as they created overloads.
Their tactical superiority was quick to pay-off when Simba Bhora found an opener in 26 minutes through a Carlos Mavhurume header from an Adrian Silla assist, which came from a short corner.
In the 41st minute the visitors were brought to their knees when stalwart defender Ariel Makopa was shown red for allegedly pulling down Harrison Masina, denying the forward a goal-scoring opportunity.
In the 55th minute, Chitembwe’s men found an equaliser when Emmanuel Paga tapped in a Jayden Bakari cross from close range.
Simba Bhora head coach Mandla Mpofu said: “It is very disappointing, I think we were very sloppy in the first half although we were a goal ahead.
“We lost it in the second half, looking at our two strikers who sat on yellow cards, I thought we would up our game and intensity.
“However, they came with a better plan in the second half and worked extra hard to cover up for the missing men. I actually feel that they worked very hard and were just unlucky not to have gotten a win.”
His equal number Chitembwe, rued Bakari’s missed chances.
“In the first half, we lacked intensity and concentration, and as such we conceded,” he said.
“At half-time we told the boys to cover up for the missing man and I am happy they responded well but am a bit disappointed that we missed two good chances; we could have won this game.
“Today’s performance can be something positive to build on in the relegation fight, we did very well and am sure that even the boys now have belief that they can do it.”
Meanwhile, ZPC got the better of struggling Chicken Inn 1-0 at Nyamhunga yesterday.
