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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
CAPS Utd …….. (0) 1
Simba Bhora…. (0) 2
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe was deeply hurt by his side’s defeat, and the schoolboy blunders made by his players at Rufaro yesterday, he didn’t even show up for the post-match media conference.
Instead, he was locked up with his players in the changing room for a lecture, which lasted more than 30 minutes.
It was their first defeat in five games.
Zimbabwe international Walter Musona scored a late free-kick for the winner.
The match was played somewhat on a sombre background of the death of former ZIFA technical director Nelson Matongorere.
The veteran coach educator, who was also doubling as CAPS United assistant coach/technical advisor at the time of his death, will be buried this afternoon at Zororo Cemetery.
The defeat was a bitter pill for the Green Machine who had thought they had salvaged the points after veteran Rodwell Chinyengetere had cancelled out Harrison Masina’s 50th minute lead.
Chinyengetere converted from the penalty spot in the 80th minute to give the Green Machine a lifeline but their joy was short-lived as Musona’s deflected free-kick, from the edge of the penalty box, decided the game, with just six minutes of regulation time remaining.
Simba Bhora coach, Tonderai Ndiraya, was ecstatic after bouncing back to winning ways and lifting his side to third place on the log standings.
“We knew it was always going to be difficult and we didn’t expect our players to be this sharp, obviously, because of the games that we have played in the last seven days.
“I think we have played three games in seven days and then, in those games, we also travelled to Bulawayo and back, so it was going to be difficult in terms of sharpness and free-flowing football.
“We fought hard and we got so many chances to score in the first half, especially on transition.
“Then, of course, it took Walter Musona’s magic to give us the three points. But, overall, it wasn’t really a performance that you would want as a coach.”
CAPS United controlled the early exchanges of this encounter but there was not much happening in the final third to threaten the visitors’ goal. Instead, it was the Green Machine who almost got punished after their goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga had strayed several yards away from the goal line, only for Simba Bhora striker Tymon Machope to miss the target with a speculative attempt from a distance.
Makepekepe had a goal disallowed for offside in the 22nd minute when William Manondo headed into an empty net after the goalkeeper Simba Chinani had punched an attempt by Ralph Kawondera back into play.
Teams:
CAPS United:
Tonderayi Mateyaunga, Hastings Chapusha, Eric Manokore, Bruce Kangwa, Godknows Murwira, Kingsley Mureremba, Ralph Kawondera, Junior Bunjira (P. Bamusi, 49th min), Wayne Makuva, Rodwell Chinyengetere, William Manondo.
Simba Bhora:
Simbarashe Chinani, Webster Tafa, Isheanesu Mauchi, Ishmael Nyanhi, Blessing Moyo, Tichaona Chipunza, Mthokozisi Msebe (A. Manenji, 88th min), Walter Musona (B. Veremu, 90th min), Harrison Masina (M. Mkolo, 71st min), Vassilli Kawe, Tymon Machope.
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