Sweet Triangle advances

Triangle ………. . ( 0) 1

Azam …………….(0) 0

Fungai Muderere in BULAWAYO

TRIANGLE advanced to the playoff stage of the Caf Confederation Cup on a 2-0 goal aggregate after they proved to be too sweet for Bruce Kangwa’s Azam FC in a first round second leg match at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.

In the reserve fixture played at Chamazi Stadium in Dara Salem, Zimbabwe’s representatives in this inter club contest also edged the Tanzanian football giants 1-0 courtesy of a Ralph Kawondera strike.

In yesterday’s duel, towering Trevor Mavhunga emerged as the hero of the day after he blasted the ball past goalminder Razak Abalora four minutes before time.

Mavunga, who had earlier on connived with stocky Allen Tavariswa and speedy Timothy January to miss glorious chances for the hosts, was set up by Kawondera for the all-important goal.

Ironically, it was also ex-Highlanders’ utility player Kangwa’s return to Barbourfields Stadium, three years after his move to Tanzania.

Now 29 and a foreign based player, Kangwa was wearing number 26 for Azam, a side he was captaining.

But unlike during his previous matches at home with his former team Bosso, Kangwa was greeted by an empty stadium, results eluded him.

“We knew what we needed and we didn’t want to give away anything cheaply. It’s good we got the decisive goal and we now progress to the next stage.

“It’s a great achievement for us and we are aiming even higher. We may be new in this campaign but I think we have experienced technical team members and players who have participated in similar tournaments.

“As such, we hope our fine run will continue,” said an ecstatic Triangle gaffer, Taurai Mangwiro.

Triangle are yet to concede in the four Caf Confederations Cup games and Mangwiro’s opposite number, Etiene Ndayiragije, conceded that they lost to a more organised side.

“The best team of the day won and I congratulate them. Triangle were organised and they capitalized on that golden chance they got in the last minutes of the match. I think my boys really tried but we could not get the result. We are in a rebuilding exercise and there is still hope for us,” said Ndayiragije

Teams

Triangle: R Mudimu, T Mavunga, D Dzingai, R Madamombe (Bero 88 mins), C Duwa, T. January, P Tonha, O Mwerahari (Mudadi 42 mins), R Kawondera, A. Tavarwisa (Makoni 85 mins, B Chikwenya

Azam: R Abalora, A Omary, D Omah , M Yakuka, R Daly, O Chirwa (Kipagwile), D. Ngoma, I Ally, M Abbasn ( Domoya 56 mins), B Kangwa, A Ahmad