Poor Buffaloes axed. . . Nervous Mutare City Rovers stumble

How Buffaloes and City Rovers both missed penalties in their matches last Saturday and Sunday leaves football followers in the eastern border wondering whether the city really has the material to sustain even a single team in the country’s top-flight league.

Buffaloes’ four-year stay in the Castle Lager Premiership came to an end last Saturday when they played typical high school football and did not show any hunger for victory as they succumbed to a one-nil defeat at the hands of dethroned champions, Dynamos at Sakubva Stadium.

Given their lacklustre performance, epitomised by a missed penalty by ineffectual Clive Kawinga, perhaps the Eastern Region Division One League is where Buffaloes really belongs.

During their four years in the domestic top-flight league, the Mutare soldiers have survived relegation on the last day of the Premiership season more than once, but the script was not the same last weekend and not even the big favour that Harare City had done for them by holding Tsholotsho in Bulawayo could not count for Buffaloes.

The stalemate between Harare City and Tsholotsho meant that Buffaloes would have survived only if they had managed to beat Dynamos.

In the minds of many neutrals beating Dynamos could sound like a mammoth task for little Buffaloes, but in last Saturday’s game the Harare giants were a pale shadow of the feared outfit it is and Saul Chaminuka’s men will leave to regret a flurry of missed clear cut scoring chances especially in the first half.

Even Dynamos gaffer, Tonderai Ndiraya, admitted that his team was not at its best.“We did not really find our rhythm especially in the first half, but it is good that we managed to get the three points,” said Ndiraya in a post match interview.

19 minutes into that match, Buffaloes’ Jacob Muzokomba was just unlucky not to have thrust his team into the lead when his blistering shot from a free kick went inches wide of target.

With Dynamos keeper Tendai Mukuruva clearly beaten, Kawinga could have put his name on the score sheet in the 23rd minute, but his powerful shot rattled the upright before going out of play.

Then the perfect chance of taking the lead presented itself to Buffaloes just a minute after the breather when Godknows Murwira clearly handled the ball in a desperate attempt to clear the ball and Harare referee, Ruzive Ruzive did not hesitate to point to the spot.Up stepped disappointing Kawinga whose weak effort was parried to safety by Mukuruva.

In the dying minutes, with news filtering through at Sakubva that Tsholotsho had been held to a one-all stalemate in Bulawayo anxiety crept up for Buffaloes and their sympathisers with expectations of a winning goal that could guarantee Premiership survival.With only a minute of regulation time remaining, the least of what Mutare fans expected happened as Zivanai Mhanda released a tantalising volley that beat Buffaloes goalie, Chengetai Tandadzai to propel DeMbare in the lead.In a post match interview, Chaminuka bemoaned the missed chances saying it was just not his day.

“I think we played well and we had a good game in which we created a lot of scoring chances but when it is not your day, it’s just not your day. A lot of things happened, we missed a penalty, it was saved, you can imagine.

“That means we are going back to Division One and mount yet another Premiership promotion campaign,” said an emotional Chaminuka.

The story was the same for City Rovers who only needed to beat Hartley to maintain their status as log leaders going into the final round of league matches.

However, Mutare City Rovers are still confident of achieving their desired ambition of Premiership promotion.

In the final round of league fixtures on this weekend, all the three teams gunning for promotion – Masvingo United, City Rovers and Hartley – will be away.

City Rovers will face Ruwa Gunners, while log leaders Masvingo United entertain Mutoko Traders.

Third placed Hartley Academy face ZRP Masvingo in Harare.

“As a club we are saddened by the 0-0 draw against Hartley Academy last Sunday at home. We dominated play and we played very good passing game, but, it was unfortunate as it was regrettable that our strikers failed to convert the chances that came their way. At such levels of the game we do not expert players to miss such chances.

That draw has put us at a disadvantage.

“However, the game of football is full of surprises. We will fight until to the last game. We will not lose focus and we will win our away match against Ruwa Gunners. We are expecting that the results between Mutoko and Masvingo will come in our favour.We have come a long way and I guess that this time the football Gods will smile at us.

“As a club we are want to say thank you to the thousands of supporters who came on our match against Hartley, but, unfortunately we did not produce the results that they were expecting. I want to say thank you very much the people of Mutare and the surrounding areas. I can see that this relationship will continue binding us together as we seek promotion. At this juncture I would like the people in Mutare to just believe in us. They should believe that it can be done and we are going to do it” reads the statement from Mutare City Rovers publicist, Clayton ‘Baggio’ Masekesa.

Ray BandeSenior ReporterMUTARE plunged into melancholy last weekend and the city is highly likely not to have a team in the Castle Lager Premiership next season after lifeless and disappointing Buffaloes were relegated last Saturday, a day before the ever inconsistent Premiership promotion hopefuls Mutare City Rovers conspired to disappoint by dropping two crucial points at home.How Buffaloes and City Rovers both missed penalties in their matches last Saturday and Sunday leaves football followers in the eastern border wondering whether the city really has the material to sustain even a single team in the country’s top-flight league.Buffaloes’ four-year stay in the Castle Lager Premiership came to an end last Saturday when they played typical high school football and did not show any hunger for victory as they succumbed to a one-nil defeat at the hands of dethroned champions, Dynamos at Sakubva Stadium. Given their lacklustre performance, epitomised by a missed penalty by ineffectual Clive Kawinga, perhaps the Eastern Region Division One League is where Buffaloes really belongs.During their four years in the domestic top-flight league, the Mutare soldiers have survived relegation on the last day of the Premiership season more than once, but the script was not the same last weekend and not even the big favour that Harare City had done for them by holding Tsholotsho in Bulawayo could not count for Buffaloes.The stalemate between Harare City and Tsholotsho meant that Buffaloes would have survived only if they had managed to beat Dynamos.In the minds of many neutrals beating Dynamos could sound like a mammoth task for little Buffaloes, but in last Saturday’s game the Harare giants were a pale shadow of the feared outfit it is and Saul Chaminuka’s men will leave to regret a flurry of missed clear cut scoring chances especially in the first half.Even Dynamos gaffer, Tonderai Ndiraya, admitted that his team was not at its best.“We did not really find our rhythm especially in the first half, but it is good that we managed to get the three points,” said Ndiraya in a post match interview.19 minutes into that match, Buffaloes’ Jacob Muzokomba was just unlucky not to have thrust his team into the lead when his blistering shot from a free kick went inches wide of target.With Dynamos keeper Tendai Mukuruva clearly beaten, Kawinga could have put his name on the score sheet in the 23rd minute, but his powerful shot rattled the upright before going out of play.Then the perfect chance of taking the lead presented itself to Buffaloes just a minute after the breather when Godknows Murwira clearly handled the ball in a desperate attempt to clear the ball and Harare referee, Ruzive Ruzive did not hesitate to point to the spot.Up stepped disappointing Kawinga whose weak effort was parried to safety by Mukuruva.In the dying minutes, with news filtering through at Sakubva that Tsholotsho had been held to a one-all stalemate in Bulawayo anxiety crept up for Buffaloes and their sympathisers with expectations of a winning goal that could guarantee Premiership survival.With only a minute of regulation time remaining, the least of what Mutare fans expected happened as Zivanai Mhanda released a tantalising volley that beat Buffaloes goalie, Chengetai Tandadzai to propel DeMbare in the lead.In a post match interview, Chaminuka bemoaned the missed chances saying it was just not his day.“I think we played well and we had a good game in which we created a lot of scoring chances but when it is not your day, it’s just not your day. A lot of things happened, we missed a penalty, it was saved, you can imagine.“That means we are going back to Division One and mount yet another Premiership promotion campaign,” said an emotional Chaminuka.The story was the same for City Rovers who only needed to beat Hartley to maintain their status as log leaders going into the final round of league matches.However, Mutare City Rovers are still confident of achieving their desired ambition of Premiership promotion.In the final round of league fixtures on this weekend, all the three teams gunning for promotion – Masvingo United, City Rovers and Hartley – will be away.City Rovers will face Ruwa Gunners, while log leaders Masvingo United entertain Mutoko Traders. Third placed Hartley Academy face ZRP Masvingo in Harare.“As a club we are saddened by the 0-0 draw against Hartley Academy last Sunday at home. We dominated play and we played very good passing game, but, it was unfortunate as it was regrettable that our strikers failed to convert the chances that came their way. At such levels of the game we do not expert players to miss such chances.That draw has put us at a disadvantage. “However, the game of football is full of surprises. We will fight until to the last game. We will not lose focus and we will win our away match against Ruwa Gunners. We are expecting that the results between Mutoko and Masvingo will come in our favour.We have come a long way and I guess that this time the football Gods will smile at us.“As a club we are want to say thank you to the thousands of supporters who came on our match against Hartley, but, unfortunately we did not produce the results that they were expecting. I want to say thank you very much the people of Mutare and the surrounding areas. I can see that this relationship will continue binding us together as we seek promotion. At this juncture I would like the people in Mutare to just believe in us. They should believe that it can be done and we are going to do it” reads the statement from Mutare City Rovers publicist, Clayton ‘Baggio’ Masekesa.