Sundaymail Editor
Don Makanyanga
Sports Reporter
Harare City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Ngezi Platinum Stars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
HARARE City coach Taurai Mangwiro is still optimistic the sun will not set for the Sunshine Boys at the end of the season.
With four games remaining and 12 points to play for, Harare City’s survival hopes got slimmer after fellow relegation candidates ZPC Kariba collected maximum points in an early kick-off at Nyamhunga.
ZPC recorded a crucial 3-0 victory over Manica Diamonds to open a three-point gap over Harare City, who now lead the bottom four teams on the log table.
Timothy January had given Harare City a 66th-minute lead, but Ngezi, who are chasing a top-four finish, levelled matters via substitute Qadr Amini’s 81st minute goal.
Despite their precarious position, City’s coach Mangwiro remains optimistic his charges will survive the chop.
“We need to concentrate on our games; the destiny is in our own hands …
“There are still 12 points to play for … The last thing that we need to do is to give in, and we need to keep believing in ourselves,” said Mangwiro.
Inconsistency has also been one of Harare City’s biggest undoing.
“It is going to be a tough task, but it can be done,” added Mangwiro.
Despite having better scoring opportunities, Harare City was found wanting in the final third.
The visitors had the first chance to break the deadlock in the third minute, when Tendayi Matindife failed to tap in a Bruno Mtigo cross.
That early scare could not deter the hosts, as they also had their first opportunity of the match in the 10th minute when Wilfred Muvirimi saw his free header going wide.
It was Ngezi Platinum who could have got the first bite of the cherry when second-half substitute Amini had his goal-bound set-piece punched for a corner by an alert Kelvin Shangiwa.
Ngezi Platinum Stars interim gaffer Takesure Chiragwi, who has sent a strong message to the executive about his capacity to become substantive coach, was happy with the result.
His charges are now unbeaten in their last five matches.
“Harare City is a very organised team with experienced coaches.
“They are fighting relegation; it made the situation even worse.
“At the end of the day, we are happy because we managed to get a point, which is a plus to us as it gives us the consistency and confidence going forward,” said Chiragwi.
Results:
Tenax 0-2 Black Rhinos
Harare City 1-1 Ngezi Platinum
Bulawayo Chiefs 0-1 Bulawayo City
FC Platinum 1-0 Herentals
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