adminTadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
HIGH-FLYING Ngezi Platinum Stars have conceded just twice in a remarkable 10-match unbeaten run so far this season, but coach Tonderai Ndiraya is worried by his defence ahead of their clash against bogey side CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Sunday’s encounter is the first real test of character for the Mhondoro team away from home.
Although the platinum miners have already beaten giants Dynamos and Highlanders this season, both ties were played at their Baobab fortress where they are unbeaten in 30 league matches, since August 2016.
Ngezi have dropped points twice this season, both away in draws against Shabanie and ZPC Kariba.
They lead the log standings with 26 points, two ahead of FC Platinum and 10 above their opponents on Sunday.
Interestingly, Ngezi Platinum Stars have never beaten CAPS United in a league match since they were promoted into the top-flight in 2016, the year Makepekepe won the Premiership crown.
In the two teams’ league clashes in 2016, CAPS United goalkeeper Jorum Muchambo’s howler in the last-minute gifted Ngezi a 1-1 stalemate at Baobab, but the Green Machine won the reverse fixture 1-0 at the National Sports Stadium.
Last year, the two teams’ first duel ended in a 2-2 draw at Baobab with Makepekepe winning the reverse fixture 3-0 in Harare.
With Ngezi in red-hot form, it remains to be seen if they will be able to beat CAPS United at the National Sports Stadium after failing to achieve such a feat in their two previous visits.
Ndiraya has expressed optimism his charges will come to the party against a side that has perfected the art of playing against them.
However, the former Dynamos gaffer, who masterminded his team’s 5-0 rout of Yadah over the weekend, is worried about his defence.
Although the Liberty Chakoroma-marshalled backline has conceded just twice this season, Ndiraya is not happy with how the defence is playing.
“In fact the defence pairing of Liberty Chakoroma and Frank Makarati has worked well. Look, they have just conceded two goals in 10 matches. They are ably supported in the wingbacks by Keith Murera and Kenneth Bulaji.
“But, obviously, as a coach you always have some grey areas which you want to work on.
“In our game against Yadah, we played well and scored five goals, which is quite remarkable, but you also find that we were a bit overconfident at the back, especially when we took what looked like a comfortable lead.
“On any other day, you can concede from being casual. You cannot gift the opponents some simple chances. I am not very happy with that. I want our defence to be watertight and not allow our opponents to camp in our own defensive third.
“I am impressed by what the defence has done so far, but if we are to be very casual against stronger teams we can easily concede.
“Against Yadah we gave a lot of space to the opponents and with a little bit of luck, I think Yadah would have scored at least two goals. That is the area we want to work on,” said Ndiraya.
Online Reporter