dyton mupawaenda
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FOR a moment, one could be forgiven for thinking that the latest Castle Lager Premiership log standings are actually what they saw for much of the second half of the 2024 Northern Region Soccer League table — a top of the table tight race between MWOS and second-placed Scottland, who are now separated by just a point.
This is because this duo of Premiership debutants continued to shine yesterday, retaining their places among the 2025 season’s early pacesetters.
MWOS, one of only three teams together with Ngezi Platinum Stars and FC Platinum, still to taste defeat, shot back to the summit, at least for an initial 24 hours after they ground out a 1-0 victory over ZPC Kariba that came off the effort from Billy Veremu after 63 minutes of toiling at Baobab Stadium yesterday.
With Ngezi only in action today when they visit CAPS United at Rufaro Stadium, MWOS took full advantage when securing their third victory in five attempts, while the other two assignments ended in draws to take their points tally to 11.
Scottland skipper Musona finally gets it right
At Rufaro, captain Walter Musona broke his goal duck in Scottland colours when helping his side to a convincing 3-0 victory over Bikita Minerals.
He headed home a Vassili Kawe cross in the 25th minute.
While Khama Billiat failed to convert from a one-on-one situation, his other effort was ruled offside.
Coach Wilson Mutekede’s Bikita were offering very little in their attack, with their first sniff at goal only arriving in the 41st minute, but Tadiwanashe Nyakope’ s shot from outside the box went off target.
Billiat later delicately sent Mthokozisi Msebe clear on goal, who obliged with precision for his second goal of the season.
An own goal from Bikita Minerals defender Takunda Chanata sealed his team’s fate.
Scottland coach Tonderai Ndiraya handed some of his players their club debuts, including teenage winger and Legends Football Academy alumnus Tadiwa Chakuchichi.
“We were expecting to win and I am happy we got the three points,’’ Ndiraya said. “In the first half we dominated the game; the mobility was good although I was not entirely pleased because we failed to create clear-cut chances.”
Mutekede felt Bikita Minerals are in a precarious position.
With a mere two points out of a possible 15, the former ZIFA technical director is praying for an immediate change of fortunes for the lithium miners.
“It was an unfortunate defeat for our team, I think we really played well and the boys visibly wanted to grind something out of it.
“We need to do more in the final third because we created opportunities upfront but failed to finish off well,’’ Mutekede said.
DeMbare brought down to earth
Just a week after they floored champions Simba Bhora, Dynamos were quickly brought down to earth following a 0-1 defeat by Manica Diamonds at Sakubva Stadium.
Dynamos coach Lloyd “Ma Blanyo” Chigowe believes his team now needs to take no prisoners in their home matches in order to eventually keep their dreams of fighting for the championship alive.
Manica Diamonds dominated the first half of the encounter, but the Harare giants came back after the breather enjoying the lion’s share of possession, only to be undone by their failure to convert the numerous scoring chances they created.
It took the Gem Boys just under a quarter of an hour to get the breakthrough that would prove the game’s decider when the slippery Charles Teguru volleyed home after Dynamos defenders failed to deal with a Lawrence Masibera long throw-in.
In the second half, Chigowe made a tactical switch, moving star player and skipper Emmanuel Jalai into midfield and his influence grew in the match, but still the visitors lacked the firepower.
Not even the vociferous crowd that rallied behind this DeMbare outfit could inspire the team to snatch at least an equaliser.
“I think the team showed potential. They showed class and I am happy with that even though it remains painful that we could not get a goal or two after creating so many chances,” said Chigowe.
“Our opponents made the most of the few chances they created in the first half and they got the goal that made the difference.”
Manica Diamonds assistant coach Tafadzwa Mashiri, who is being delegated to field questions in post-match interviews by coach Jairos Tapera since the start of the season, felt they could have won the match by a wider margin if they managed to make the most of the clear-cut scoring chances that came their way.
“It was a good game for us even though I feel our conversion rate was poor. We could have scored more than one goal given the numerous scoring chances that we created,” he said.
Elsewhere yesterday, a perfect second-half goal from Perfect Chikwende was enough to give GreenFuel their first set of points at home this season in a tightly contested match against Yadah in Chisumbanje.
Match-Day 5 Results:
Manica Diamonds 1-0 Dynamos
Scottland FC 3-0 Bikita Minerals
Kwekwe United 0-0 FC Platinum
Chicken Inn 0-0 Herentals
Simba Bhora 1-0 TelOne
MWOS 1-0 ZPC Kariba
GreenFuel 1-0 Yadah
Online Reporter