Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, at Luveve Stadium
Arenel 0-1 ZPC Kariba
IT had seemed nothing would separate these two teams on the day until substitute Misheck Makaripe scored the only goal of the match with 13 minutes before full-time.
A minute before he scored, Makaripe had missed an empty net after failing to connect a Fanuel Shoko cross from the right.
He did not repeat the same mistake moments later as he fired home yet another cross from the right.
ZPC Kariba coach Newton Chitewe was visibly pleased with the victory.
“I thought we had an advantage in the first-half. We continued pressing and we got the goal. I am happy for the scorer it was his debut after we acquired his services during the mid-season. This victory gives us an advantage in the relegation battle,” said Chitewe.
With the victory, ZPC Kariba moved into position 10 on the table with 29 points. Arenel are bottom of the table with 18. Their coach, Philani “Beefy” Ncube said this was one of their worst performances this season. “We did not come to the party. We struggled in all aspects of the game. We need to take stock of ourselves and ask ourselves if we are ready to fight relegation. I will take the blame for the result without blaming anyone. It was a game that we should have won,” said Ncube. Arenel missed some days of training and it showed on the field of play as their players looked fatigued.
Despite both sides playing a poor first half, they looked better in the second. The visitors were better in the second half and had a good chance after 62 minutes of play with Fanuel Shoko sending in a cross from the right but Samuel Makawa could not direct his header on target. Moments later, the visitors got a free-kick on the edge of the box and Shoko wasted the effort firing way over the bar.
In the 66th minute, Makawa made a brilliant run into the box but his shot found the side net. Chilubyo Mkuli found himself with acres of space inside the box but could not compose himself in what was Arenel’s best chance of the game towards the final whistle.
Teams
Arenel Movers
A Ngwenya, G Dlodlo, A Thandi, S Chaminuka (B Gijimani 68’), P Mwenda, T January (F Mthethwa 86min), B Jaravaza (R Sibanda 86min), Z Dambo, D Dlodlo, L Nyathi (C Mukuli 68min), T Banda ZPC Kariba
F Sibanda, B Mutukure, N Kupara, S Makawa (B Zuberi 89min), Gavaza, K Dzingayi, C Muleya, F Shoko, T Pio (S Ngala 68min), K Madima, A Karengesha (M Makaripe 68min)
—@innnocentskizoe
derick.khumalo
Online Reporter