dyton mupawaenda
Tadious Manyepo-Sports Reporter
Black Rhinos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Ngezi Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
NGEZI Platinum Stars blew a huge opportunity to reclaim top spot in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League after this draw against Black Rhinos at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
The Mhondoro team went into this encounter knowing fully a win would help them climb back to the summit of the standings; on the back of three consecutive wins in their previous matches.
But they were conservative throughout the afternoon and they would probably count themselves lucky to have picked a point on a day they mostly played second fiddle to their opponents.
Anchoring the log before this tie and with a new coach in Saul Chaminuka, Black Rhinos showed so much hunger and they were unfortunate to take just a point home.
Nonetheless the point helped them move a point from the basement above fellow army outfit Cranborne Bullets with six points to their name.
Ngezi Platinum remained third with 14 points to their name, one adrift of log leaders Highlanders and two above defending champions FC Platinum, who they face at Baobab on Sunday.
The match was an exciting lot with both teams having their moments.
But it was Black Rhinos who came closest to scoring on four occasions, hitting the woodwork at each turn.
Just two minutes into the game, Migos Svinurai took a snap shot that beat Ngezi Platinum goalkeeper Nelson Chadya but it hit the upright on its wat out.
Moments later, Tatenda Mchisa’s ferocious freekick skimmed the crossbar before Svinurai hit the upright again on the half hour mark. The impressive Svinurai was back again in the second half dribbling past a thicket of Ngezi Platinum defenders before smashing his effort against the post.
Black Rhinos were so good one would wonder how they were failing to get results in their previous matches.
But Ngezi Platinum were stocky and they could have snatched a win right at the death but substitute Tinotenda Murasiranwa failed to beat Panashe Chirimbanyemba in goals for Black Rhinos in a one versus one situation.
Ngezi Platinum Stars coach Takesure Chiragwi was happy to take home a point.
“We couldn’t match their aggression but I think we could have done better in terms of aggression,” said Chiragwi.
“Unfortunately we could not manage to match that but a point is better in terms of our progression. Tough luck for today but I am very happy. “We didn’t lose the game; we didn’t concede so I think we did very well today.” Chaminuka wasn’t on the Rhinos bench because he is yet to do the mandatory CAF Refresher Course.
Stanford “Stix” Mutizwa who was replaced by Chaminuka, but reassigned to the position of technical director, was barking the instructions. He expressed excitement over the manner in which Rhinos played yesterday.
Teams
Black Rhinos
Panashe Chirimanyemba, Darren Mutimuzunze (Sylon Chikwerengwe 87min), Tatenda Mchisa, Allan Gahadzikwa, Mactonomy Mahodobi (Pride Mukombwe 66min), Nelson Mwasanga (Philip Gweva 75min), Prince Milanzi, Gift Saunyama (Tapiwa Matongo 76min), Migos Svinurai (Garikai Dematsika 75min), Cheusi Nyakope
Ngezi Platinum Stars
Nelson Chadya, Kudzai Chigwida, Gareth Madhake, Farai Madhanaga, Claude Mapoka (Tinotenda Murasiranwa 46min), Marvellous Mukumba, Qadr Amini, Walter Vuwa (Marlvin Gaki 79min), Leslie Kashitigu, Takunda Benhura (McDonald Makuwe 79min), Nigel Makumbe (Tapiwa Mandinyenya 67min)
Online Reporter