Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi, Zimpapers Sports Hub
CAPS Utd 1-3 ZPC Kariba
CAPS United’s season lurched back into crisis yesterday as furious fans turned on coach Ian Bakala, pelting him with missiles after a dismal 3-1 home defeat to ZPC Kariba in a Castle Lager Premiership clash at Rufaro.
The Green Machine, who had stunned FC Platinum the previous weekend, looked flat and disorganised. Veteran striker Moses Demera struck twice inside the opening 22 minutes to put Kariba firmly in charge, and substitute Charles Munyanyi
sealed the points deep into injury time. Congolese midfielder Bissila Mabiala had given CAPS hope with a first-half header,
but it proved a false dawn.
The result left CAPS United in 11th place on 31 points, hovering dangerously close to the relegation scrap. Their supporters, frustrated by the team’s lack of consistency, made their feelings clear at the final whistle.
It was Demera who broke the deadlock after 18 minutes when his speculative shot deceived goalkeeper Stephen Odai Kwaku, the ball bouncing awkwardly off Rufaro’s uneven turf. Four minutes later, CAPS’ defensive lapses were exposed again.
Stanley Ngala unselfishly squared to teenager Genius Hute, whose effort was spilled by Kwaku. Demera reacted quickest to poke home his second.
Mabiala briefly revived CAPS with a powerful header in the 35th minute from a Tanaka Shandirwa cross, but Kariba continued to dominate.
Kwaku was kept busy after the break, diving to tip a Hute thunderbolt onto the woodwork and pulling off two fine saves from Fanuel Shoko’s free kicks. Ngala also missed a gilt edged rebound with the goal gaping.
ZPC Kariba’s persistence was rewarded in stoppage time when Munyanyi ghosted into the box and headed home from a corner, dashing any faint hopes of a CAPS comeback.
Bakala admitted his defence had collapsed.
Ian Bakala
“Honestly, I don’t know what happened to the defence today,” he said. “The way we conceded is unacceptable. I think everyone concentrated on scoring.
That’s why they scored the third goal. We lost concentration and they punished us. But despite that, if we had used our chances, we could have done better.”
ZPC Kariba coach Newton Chitewe hailed the victory as vital in their fight for safety. The win lifted them to eighth place with 37 points, easing some of their relegation fears.
Teams
CAPS United: Stephen Odai Kwaku, Bruce Kangwa, Brian Kadamanja, Chitoshi Chinga, Wesley Milanzi (S. Muzinde 90th), Tanaka Shandirwa, Phineas Bamusi, Kundai Benyu, Bissila Mabiala, Junior Bunjira (A. Tende 46th), Jayden Bakari (A. Saeed 62nd)
ZPC Kariba: Future Sibanda, Ciphas Musikavanhu, Simbarashe Chimanikire, Kuzivakwashe Madima, Marshall Gavaza, Collen Muleya, Edmond Ruwo (F. Shoko 48th), Genius Hute (S. Makawa 84th), Wayne Kamurai (M. Kamwendo 48th), Stanley Ngala, Moses Demera (C. Munyanyi 46th)
