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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
Tsholotsho FC 0-0 ZPC Kariba
FORMER national team gaffer Sunday Chidzambwa picked his first Premiership point as ZPC Kariba coach in yesterday’s goalless draw against Tsholotsho at White City Stadium.
Chidzambwa took over the power generators’ hot seat last month and yesterday’s game was his third in charge.
In his first assignment, the veteran gaffer lost 0-1 away to Triangle United and went down by a similar margin to Tsholotsho at home last weekend.
Failure by ZPC Kariba’s forwards to convert half chances they created irked Chidzambwa, who said he would go into the transfer market to bolster his side.
Tsholotsho’s game plan of congesting the midfield forced ZPC Kariba to resort to pumping the ball forward.
“To be honest we didn’t play well today. In the last two games, we created a number of goal scoring opportunities, but today we couldn’t do that.
“We even failed to convert even the half chances. I need players who will be able to turn in those few chances. I’ve to get a striker and wide midfielders,” said Chidzambwa.
ZPC Kariba are in a precarious position, just a point above the drop zone with 15 points.
In yesterday’s game, the best chance for ZPC Kariba fell to Tsepo Rantokoane in the second minute when he outpaced his markers to latch onto a Thomas Magorimbo pass, but he hurried his shot and blazed over the bar.
They enjoyed ball possession in the opening stanza but never bothered Tsholotsho goalkeeper Mariyoni Chang.
Tsholotsho started the second half better than their opponents, trying to penetrate through the centre.
Ex-Highlanders midfielder Siza Khoza, playing his first game for Tsholotsho after coming out of retirement alongside Joel Luphahla and Danisa Phiri, was brought down on the edge of the box in the 56th minute. Luphahla took the free kick and disappointingly shot into the terraces.
A minute later, Chang did well to push Rantokoane’s hard and low shot out for a corner.
ZPC Kariba survived a scare on the 69th minute when Dexter Phiri cleared Ocient Ncube’s shot from the goal line.
The visitors’ goalkeeper Liberty Chirava had punched a Simbarashe Gorogodyo cross from the left onto the path of Ncube, but the dreadlocked player failed to capitalise.
A minute later, Phillip Makanje was brought down on the edge of the box and up stepped Madamombe, but his shot hit Ncube on the face, leaving the home team’s playmaker needing medical attention.
Lizwe Sweswe, the Tsholotsho FC coach, was content with the point.
“I think lady luck eluded us because we should have punished them in the 69th minute. Collecting a point against a seasoned side is okay, but we really needed a win. We will continue working hard,” said Sweswe.
Teams
Tsholotsho FC: Mariyoni Chang, MacClive Phiri, Nkosilathi Moyo, Thandolwendkosi Ncube, William Stima, Butholezwe Ncube Joel Luphahla (Gerald Takwara, 58th minute), Ocient Ncube, Simbarashe Gorogodyo, Siza Khoza (Lynnoth Chikuhwa, 67th minute), Tafadzwa Jaravani
ZPC Kariba: Liberty Chirava, Boid Mutukure, Dexter Phiri, Sylvester Appiah (Stephen Sheshe, 77th minute), George Magariro, Tsepo Rantokoane (Phillip Makanje, 58th minute), Russell Madamombe, Pride Tafirenyika, Raphael Manuvire (Tawanda Nyamandwe, 43rd minute), Daniel Chakupe
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