Online Reporter
Onward Gangata
Zimpapers Sports Hub
It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. A message. A heartbeat.
After weeks of teetering on the edge, Triangle United reminded the league, and themselves, that they’re not ready to go quietly into the relegation graveyard.
With a commanding 3-0 win over fellow strugglers Kwekwe United at Bata Stadium yesterday, Triangle didn’t just collect three points, they delivered their biggest victory of the season and perhaps, their most complete performance yet.
For a team stuck in the bottom two and previously unable to win away from home, this result felt seismic.
“The boys showed real character today,” beamed coach Genesis Mangombe after the match. “We’ve had to deal with fatigue, long travel and pressure, but they rose to it. This is the kind of fight we need if we’re to stay in this league.”
Triangle, who last tasted victory nearly a month ago at home to Dynamos, were desperate to turn the tide. And yesterday, they didn’t hesitate.
From the first whistle, they pressed Kwekwe United with intent. Menford Mudzimu spurned an early golden chance after a defensive mix-up, but the visitors didn’t let up.
On the half-hour mark, Aaron Zeka finally broke the deadlock, firing home from inside the box after Kwekwe’s defence failed to clear their lines. It was a goal that had been coming.
Then, just before the break, Joel Munsaka stepped up to double the advantage from the penalty spot after Andile Taruvinga brought down a marauding Triangle attacker inside the area. Calm, confident and clinical, Munsaka sent goalkeeper the wrong way.
If Kwekwe United had any hopes of a second-half comeback, they were extinguished in the 61st minute when Witness Shave curled home a neat finish from close range, the final nail in what became a one-sided contest.
Despite a late surge by Kwekwe, Triangle managed the game with maturity and control, traits that have often eluded them this season.
Mangombe’s men remain second from bottom, but now just three points from safety, a far cry from the despondency of a side resigned to the drop.
“Scoring three away from home shows we’re improving,” Mangombe said. “There’s still a long road ahead, but we now have something to build on.” For Kwekwe United, however, the defeat left more questions than answers. Coach Paul Chimalizeni cut a frustrated figure.
“We conceded silly goals, made schoolboy errors and lacked the experience needed at this level,” he said. “We’ve been crying out for reinforcements. Hopefully, the mid-season window gives us a chance to fix this.”
With more than half the season still to play, Triangle’s battle for survival is far from over. But after this emphatic performance, their first win in three and first on the road, they’ve finally given their fans something they hadn’t felt in weeks: hope.
