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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
CAPS Utd ……………………………………………… 0
Herentals…………………………………………… 0 (1)
HERENTALS coach Paul Benza and his charges were on cloud nine yesterday after they punished wasteful giants CAPS United by claiming a narrow win in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Rufaro.
The Students got the solitary goal of the match in the 62nd minute, when stand-in captain Godfrey Mukambi bundled the ball home after goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga made an elementary ball handling blunder from a corner kick.
Makepekepe virtually had themselves to blame after fluffing a glut of scoring opportunities that came their way, with chief marksman William Manondo, Rodwell Chinyengetere and Phineas Bamusi the main culprits.
On the flip side, they could also count themselves unlucky, after they were denied by the woodwork more than once.
However, it was the unforgivable goalkeeping mistake by their usually dependable goalkeeper Mateyaunga that was the major turning point of this Harare derby, much to the displeasure of their coach Lloyd Chitembwe.
“It was disappointing,” said Chitembwe. “It’s one hell of a game that I thought we did quite well save for a number of individual mistakes. “It’s unfortunate. We were in control, and I thought the goal that we conceded could have easily been avoided.
“But such is life in football. We need to go back to the drawing board, try to correct mistakes and prepare for the next game,” said Chitembwe.
will have little time to reflect as they travel to Sakubva for a midweek clash with newboys Bikita Minerals this Wednesday.
The Harare giants dominated their opponents yesterday with midfielder Kingsley Mureremba pulling the strings in the middle of the park with aplomb while Junior Bunjira was a handful to the Students’ wingbacks.
But the same could not be said of the other winger Bamusi, who had a terrible game and had one of the worst misses after failing to turn in a beautiful cross Bunjira in the 35th minute.
Bamusi could have atoned for his mistakes on the stroke of half time when he sent in a rare cross that was headed down by Chinyengetere but the Students’ goalkeeper Takudzwa Chikosi was equal to the task. Chikosi kept his team in the lead when he made an excellent diving save in the 75th minute to thwart a rising shot from a freekick taken by Chinyengetere at the edge of the box.
was again denied by the upright after he But the Students held on to their slender lead despite the barrage of attacks from Makepekepe.
“I’m very pleased. They beat us in our home match, so it was time for us to avenge that defeat, and I am pleased. It’s a plus for us, getting an away goal and also keeping a clean sheet,” said coach Benza.
“I am very happy beating CAPS United because they are not a small team. It’s a very good team with experienced players and experienced coaches.”
Teams:
CAPS United
Tonderayi Mateyaunga, Hastings Chapusha, Eric Manokore, Bruce Kangwa, Godknows Murwira, Kingsley Mureremba, Junior Bunjira (I. Nyoni, 73rd min), Phineas Bamusi (W. Makuva, 58th min), Rodwell Chinyengetere, William Manondo (B. Sarupinda, 66th min), Lot Chiwunga (J. Bakari, 58th min)
Herentals
Takudzwa Chikosi, Godfrey Mukambi, Zibusiso Ruguchu, Brighton Majarira, Christian Nyatondo, Blessing Phiri, Melvin Makiwa (E. Dombo, 66th min), Blessing Kagudu, Innocent Benza (C. Gobvu, 46th min), Grey Kufandada, John Zhuwawu (A. Maliselo, 83rd min)
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