Rhinos, FC Platinum run riot

Langton Nyakwenda

Tenax FC…… 1

Black Rhinos…. 4

 

HE always showed a lot of promise.

At some point, he was even touted as one of the country’s brightest prospects, and yesterday Kudzanai Dhemere duly turned on a spell-binding performance at Sakubva Stadium.

The former Dynamos midfielder has been given a new lease of life at Black Rhinos, and he repaid coach Herbert Maruwa’s trust with a beautiful goal that helped Black Rhinos to a sweet victory against Tenax FC in a Chibuku Super Cup Group Three match.

Tawanda Macheke and Edgar “Mundo” Mhungu, who are also both ex-DeMbare players, and captain Farai Banda scored the other goals as Chauya Chipembere ran riot.

They now go into next week’s fixture against fellow soldiers Cranborne Bullets with their tails up.

Yet it was the newboys Tenax FC who grabbed a first-minute lead through Farai Magumwa.

Macheke equalised soon after, but Tenax FC looked like they would be a match for Rhinos, with forgotten forward Panashe Mutasa pulling the strings.

Mutasa, who joined the Prison Officers from Chicken Inn, gave the Mutare-based side some bit of hope with his fancy footwork and ball control, but the pendulum swung soon after Dhemere took matters into his hands.

He rounded off the keeper before scoring on his debut from an acute angle in the 35th minute.

Five minutes earlier, Dhemere had watched in agony as his powerful shot hit the post after he was teed up by the hardworking Macheke.

Mhungu added his name onto the scoresheet after heading home a cross from the left by the impressive Banda.

The captain then sealed the deal 13 minutes from time as Black Rhinos got off to a perfect start to the 2021 Chibuku Super Cup.

It was sweet for Maruwa but sour for his counterpart Shadreck Mugurusawe, who tried all he could to salvage a point but found the defence marshalled by Bruce Homora unyielding.

Mugurusawe even made a triple substitution in the 62nd minute but it all came to naught.

It was a similar tale of a baptism of fire for Tenax fellow correctional services side Whawha, who were on the receiving end of a heavy artillery attack from Premiership kings FC Platinum at Mandava.

Norman Mapeza’s men were simply too strong for his former Warriors teammate Luke Jukulile Petros’ wardens, pumping half-a-dozen goals past the hapless Whawha, who have returned to the elite game.

Returning striker Rodwell Chinyengetere led the FC Platinum onslaught with a hat-trick, while Silas Songani added a brace.

The miners’ 19-year-old junior development product, Thandolenkosi Ngwenya, completed the rout.

 

Teams

Tenax FC: P. Makumi, D. Marara, A. Nyakabau, J. Jambo, L. Chakuamba, G. Vint, S. Munemero (E. Gavara 62nd min) P. Mutasa (C. Mbauya 62nd min), V. Mukudo (Navela 62nd min) F. Magumwa, T. Musiteyi (M. Dumbura 51st min)

Black Rhinos: S. A. Chakwana, T. Mchisa, F. Banda, B. Homora, Phiri, L. Murape, E. Mhungu, T. Macheke (V. Mhandu 89th min) K. Dhemere (A. Gahadzikwa 85th min), S. Shanga (S. Chikwerengwe 80th min)