adminEllina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
MUSHOWANI Stars put behind their financial troubles to defeat Black Rhinos 3-1 in a Northern Region Division One soccer league tie in Madziwa.
Both teams finished the game with 10 men, with Black Rhinos’ veteran striker Eddie Nyika being sent for an early shower in the first half for a second bookable offence before Mushowani’s Kudzanai Mujeni was also given the marching orders for a crude tackle on a Black Rhinos player.
Mushowani, who were missing their coach Jostein Mathuthu after he was suspended for Saturday’s game were under the guidance of senior player Lawrence Makoni and they got their goals from Paul Chiramba, Galvin Mupfutumare and Tendai Mutandi.
Black Rhinos replied once with Lincoln Saramaya’s effort.
The army side went into this match as the favourites to win considering that their opponents have been going through some challenges due to financial crisis and they have not been consistent in their game.
Mushowani secretary-general Jestina Mutasa yesterday said their win was a relief to the team as pressure has been piling and they had to suspend Mathuthu because the supporters were baying for his blood after he picked only one point from a possible nine in the three games he was in charge of the team.
Mathuthu took over from Solomon Mudavanhu a few weeks ago.
“We had no coach for this game, we suspended him because he is our new coach and unfortunately there are no results so far. From nine points he had one point, so the supporters were angry and for security reasons we told him not to come for this game.
“So we had our player Lawrence Makoni as the coach, fortunately we beat Black Rhinos. We thought we were going to lose because we had not been training and our coach was not there but we won. This was our first time to win by such a margin and I can say the boys played really well, we are happy,” said Mutasa.
In other matches, log leaders Ngezi Platinum stretched their lead on top of the log table when they thumped Seven Flames 3-0 at Baobab.
The Platinum boys’ victory and a 1-3 defeat to second placed Black Rhinos by Mushowani saw them extending their lead to nine points.
Terrence Dzukamanja was the first to score for Ngezi in the 19th minute before Thembinkosi Simango added another goal in the 47th minute.
Chief striker Daniel Kamunenga then made it three, two minutes from time.
ZRP FC beat Herentals 3-1 to move two places up to second position. They are now nine points behind the log leaders.
Online Reporter