Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE riveting Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship show continued to take twists and turns on both ends, with in-form Hardrock keeping the pressure on leaders Scottland at the top, while FC Hunters continued to steer clear of the drop zone yesterday.
CAPS United ensured they stay within reach of a top-four finish with a key 1-0 away triumph at plucky MWOS, while South African coach Thabo Senong made it three wins on the bounce as his FC Platinum overcame ZPC Kariba 1-0 at Mandava.
Champions stay ahead
A Mthokozisi Msebe brace and a first Premiership goal for Brazilian newboy Anderson Cardoso de Campos gave champions Scottland a comfortable 3-0 win over relegation-haunted AGAMA.
Victory for Mabviravira means they keep their one-point advantage over Hardrock as the league programme makes way for the FIFA international break.
Hardrock on fire
Just days after they sent Scottland tumbling out of the Chibuku Super Cup, Hardrock arrived in Bulawayo for a date against Highlanders with their tails up.
And it took former Bosso star Washington Navaya to silence the decent Barbourfields crowd as his solitary strike made the difference and handed the Kwekwe visitors the full points.
Yet Navaya had been a doubt for the game after coming worse off with a head injury in an aerial tussle against Scottland and had to be stretchered off at Rufaro last Wednesday.
Navaya, who played for Highlanders between 2021-24, is chasing a second successive Golden Boot award and once he was certified fit, he was never going to pass up a chance to extend his goal tally in the league to 16, one shy of his award-winning total last season.
Bosso goalkeeper Aaron Ngwenya produced a string of outstanding saves, but could not prevent Navaya from delivering a hammer blow in the second half.
Highlanders coach Benjani Mwaruwari admitted his side had been second best in the second half.
“It was balanced in the first half, but they are a good team with the way they were moving the ball,” he said. “We have to go back to the drawing board.”
Hardrock coach Kelvin Kaindu said the victory came despite the physical demands of their midweek cup assignment.
“It was a difficult game,” he said. “We knew the energy we put into the Cup clash during the week was going to affect us, but I am happy with the win. Their keeper made two crucial saves, and I thought he was exceptional.”
CAPS Utd get it right
Ishmael Wadi was the hero of the day, capping an outstanding afternoon with a goal in the first half.
Makepekepe last lost a match in July and they were expected to steamroll past erratic MWOS, who are also still in the running for a top-four finish.
CAPS United dominated in all aspects of play, with Wadi always posing a threat and as early as the fifth minute, the
tearaway winger had squeezed a header at Tedious Baye’s near post.
MWOS tried hard to come back into it, but they were so desperate that they ended up having substitute Tinotenda Mutyambizi being red-carded for a second violation.
CAPS United remained sixth on 47 points, the same with Dynamos who have a superior goal difference and a game in hand against another top-four contender, Herentals, whom they play this afternoon at Rufaro.
Hunters enhance survival chances
FC Hunters improved their survival chances after Benjamin Goliath’s solitary strike sank visiting Manica Diamonds at Rufaro yesterday. The closely contested match saw Hunters open an eight-point gap away from the drop zone, while Herbert “Jompano’’ Maruwa’s Gem Boys sank further into trouble.
FC Hunters coach Nesbert Saruchera was satisfied with the outcome and the cushion it gives his team.
“We are moving in the right direction,” he said.
“At the end of the day we need to collect maximum points and I am happy for my boys.
“We are not going to look back. It is our first season in the top-flight league and this win is very important for us.’’
Maruwa felt his side paid dearly for their lethargic start to the game.
“We played our best, we conceded in the opening minutes, but we will bounce back as there are still 15 points to play for,” he said. “We had to shift the team in the first half and it wasn’t that good. We were slow, we were shifting, but we tried to come back in the second half.”
No joy for TelOne
TelOne coach Joel Luphahla admitted it has become more than difficult for his side to survive after they were held 2-2 by Ngezi Platinum Stars at Ascot.
Ngezi opened the scoring early in the match through Ghanaian import Eddisone McDonald.
The WI-FI Boys turned the match on its head with two quick goals in the first half from Johannes Mabwe and Nkosiyabo Masilela. It looked like TelOne were going to breathe life into their relegation fight, but Farai Madhanhanga struck a beautiful volley in the second half to deny TelOne victory.
TelOne, with 21 points, remain 16th on the 18-team log table.
“We are in a difficult place, but I am happy with the way the boys are responding,” he said.
“But we are not comfortable with many things, the balls that are being played sometimes it looks like the boys are afraid of making mistakes, we need to work very hard to make sure we correct that.’’
Ngezi Platinum Stars coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziwa said: “I applaud the boys for the performance in the early minutes but complacency crept in allowing TelOne to come back.
“We played better in the second half and we should have been able to wrap it up, however, it is never easy when playing against teams that are fighting for points.”
