adminInnocent Nyoni’s header in the 36th minute was enough to bag the visiting police team the precious three points.
The midfielder rose high to connect a Tendai Chinungo cross from the left flank to beat Winston Chikwetu who was between the goalposts.
The cross came after the home team failed to clear a corner kick that had resulted from Kasimero Chimbadzwa’s stinging freekick that was tipped over the bar by Chikwetu.
Chinungo, who was returning from suspension, was a livewire on the left flank and was a handful to the home team players for most of the game.
The tussle from the teams, which are in the deep end of the Premier League ladder, was a flat affair, with the goal and the freekick the only things to talk about in the first half although the visitors were the better side.
After the interval Mambas continued making forays into the Quelaton half while the home side looked out of sorts and tired for much of the game.
“The boys are failing to gel and they are not playing according to our instructions and honestly it is a big challenge as there seems to be no fight left in the boys any longer.
“But despite the loss and the dispirited display by the boys I still maintain that we should stick together and fight until the end,” said Simba Rusike, the Quelaton assistant coach.
Maybe the gods are not smiling at the relegation-hounded Quelaton as they had to make do with a makeshift defence after 63 minutes when Zibusiso Sibanda was taken out and veteran Chipo Tsodzo who is a shadow of his former self had to switch to the back.
Ndumiso Khanye also got injured in the 81st minute and was replaced by Timothy January.
Central midfielder Takunda Magaisa dropped back to the defence to partner Tsodzo for the remainder of the game.
Kwela Kwela could have equalised in the 74th minute when substitute Thulani Moyo split the visitors’ defence with an inch-perfect pass and Tedious Mugumanya, another substitute, poked wide with his left foot in a one-on-one situation with Jere although the Mambas defenders were closing in.
The last chance of the game fell to the home team when a free kick was conceded outside the 18-yard box but Pride Zireni skied his effort along with hopes of the home team picking up a point.
Black Mambas coach John Ncube said the three points they won were vital and were a starting point on which to build in the fight to avoid the relegation axe.
“We had a good game although I think we were much better in the first half but the important thing is that we picked up the three points and that is a start in our fight to move out of the relegation zone,” Ncube said.
Teams
Quelaton: W Chikwetu, W Chireni, Z Sibanda (T Moyo 65 minutes), N Khanye (T January 81 minutes), P Ncube, P Tshuma, T Magaisa, S Manwere (T Mugumanya 51 minutes), C Tsodzo, I Kutsanzira, M Moyo.
Black Mambas: L Jere, P Muswere, T Chinungo, B Nyahunzvi, S Mutenheri, C Hungwe, I Nyoni, N Alifandika, F Banda ( T Ranthokoane 73 minutes), K Chimbadzwa (P Khumalo 92 minutes), L Chibwiro.
Online Reporter