Wasteful Mutare, ZPC Kariba draw

Ray Bande in Mutare
Mutare City Rovers 0-0 ZPC Kariba

RELEGATION candidates Mutare City Rovers settled for a draw against ZPC Kariba in a dull Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at Sakubva yesterday.

The result left Bulawayo side Tsholotsho with a real chance of overtaking Mutare City Rovers on the third from basement position, only if the Bulawayo outfit prevails against Harare City at Luveve today.

Both Mutare City Rovers and ZPC Kariba were guilty of squandering clear-cut scoring chances that came their way during this lifeless encounter played before a paltry crowd.

Even veteran gaffer Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa of ZPC Kariba admitted that his players failed to utilise the chances they created.

“As for our part, we didn’t play well. We created many chances to hit at goal but somehow we couldn’t. Each time we created a scoring opportunity we were either unnecessarily stylish or simply wasteful.

“Yes, Mutare City have posted good results before and have played well before but today they were just out of form. We could’ve beaten them by a wide margin if we had utilised all the chances that we created. If we travel all the way from Kariba to come here and play a team like this then settle for a draw, we really have to look into ourselves and analyse if we’re really serious,” said Chidzambwa.

Mutare City Rovers were the first to create a scoring opportunity when out of sorts Manuel Meleka controlled the ball inside the box but his weak effort was easily cleared by ZPC Kariba’s Thomas Sweswe.

Former Harare City forward Agrippa Murimba, a usually trusted gunslinger for the Mutare side, added his name to the list of villains when he shot far wide off target from close range after being cleverly set up by Bright Majamanda.

Tawanda Munyanduri could have put his team into the lead in the 22nd minute when he got to the end of a tantalising Limited Chikafa cross, but Munyanduri headed off target when it seemed much easier to direct his effort into the net.

City Rovers gaffer Taku Shariwa said given the fatigue that came with playing three competitive matches inside one week, the point gained was worthwhile.

“We had three matches inside one week and I could see the fatigue. However, the point gained was very vital for us in our fight to survive relegation. We would have loved to get all the three points but that’s how the game of football goes. We just have to go back to the drawing board and plan for our next match,” he said.

Teams

Mutare City Rovers: V Twaliki, V Madamombe, M Mkwena, E Sinaputa, M Sako, C Ngondonga, B Majamanda (F Muza 85th minute), C Muzawazi (T Chabwana 36th minute), S Muchabaya, M Meleka (C Masocha 56th minute), A Murimba

ZPC Kariba: T Mawaya, T Munyanduri (D Chakupe 82nd minute), M Kunyarimwe, S Appiah, T Sweswe, B Mutukure, T Mamvura, T Nyamandwe, E Meleka, L Chikafa (P Kabwe 52nd minute), N Tigere (T Chawapihwa 52nd minute)