Online Reporter
Lawrence Moyo
TRADITIONAL Premiership heavyweights Dynamos and CAPS United have a lot of work to do if they are to restore confidence in their supporters and get them back to stadiums again, especially Rufaro.
Dwindling attendance figures for the Harare giants at Rufaro can be traced to the poor results achieved by the two giants so far in the campaign.
CAPS United are second from bottom while Dynamos are 13th and they already trail pacesetters, MWOS by 10 points and eight points respectively after just six matches.
That means there will be no CAPS United nor Dynamos at the summit of the Premier Soccer League standings at least until June.
Week Six had all the 18 teams achieving something for the first time this season and below are some of the firsts from the past weekend:
MWOS
The 1-0 win against Herentals College at Shamva’s Wadzanai Stadium was MWOS’ FIRST win away from home this season.
They had won all their home games against Highlanders (1-0), Yadah (2-0) and ZPC Kariba (1-0) while drawing away to Bikita Minerals (1-1) and FC Platinum (0-0).
Just as well, it had to take an own goal for MWOS to secure their first win away from home. It was the FIRST time this season that MWOS had benefited from an own goal.
NGEZI PLATINUM STARS
The former champions and former log leaders suffered their FIRST defeat of the season when they went down at Ascot Stadium against TelOne.
SCOTTLAND
Premiership newcomers Scottland were held to a 1-1 draw by Yadah at Rufaro on Saturday. It was Scottland’s FIRST draw at Rufaro, venue for their previous four matches. They have played five of their six matches at Rufaro and three were victories, one defeat and now the draw against Yadah.
It was the FIRST time Scottland took the lead and failed to win. Khama Billiat headed them ahead, but Yadah equalised just before halftime and the match was to end like that.
In previous matches, Scottland led against Triangle, CAPS United and Bikita Minerals and won all three without conceding. In the other match, Scottland scored a last minute for equaliser at Highlanders for a 1-1 draw.
It was also the FIRST time that Khama Billiat scored this season.
SIMBA BHORA
The defending champions moved into fourth place on the Premiership standings following a thumping 4-1 win over Manica Diamonds at Wadzanai on Saturday.
It was the FIRST time that Simba Bhora scored more than one goal in a match this season. They previous results had seen them score one goal each against TelOne and Herentals while firing blanks in three other matches.
It was the first time this season that Simba Bhora won back-to-back matches in the Premiership. Saturday’s victory came after a 1-0 win over TelOne at Wadzanai the previous week.
TELONE
The Gweru-based Wi-fi Boys became the FIRST team to beat Ngezi Platinum this season following a 2-1 win at Ascot on Saturday.
TelOne became the FIRST team to score two goals past the Ngezi Platinum defence this season. The previous five opponents had been restricted on a maximum one goal, which was achieved by Kwekwe United and CAPS United.
MANICA DIAMONDS
The Ngoda Boys MANICA Diamonds were given a 4-1 hiding at Wadzanai Stadium by defending champions, Simba Bhora.
It was the FIRST time to concede four goals in one match this season, having kept three clean sheets in first five games. Only conceded in defeat to FC Platinum and draw at Herentals.
The six goals conceded by Manica Diamonds so far have all come away from Sakubva.
HIGHLANDERS
HIGHLANDERS continued with their scoring form as they beat struggling rivals, CAPS United 1-0 at Barbourfields.
It was the FIRST time that they scored a first minute goal, which bettered their previous fastest goal scored by Melikhaya Ncube against Kwekwe United on March 9.
GREENFUEL
Greenfuel were resolute against FC Platinum at Mandava and emerged from Zvishavane with a valuable point following a goalless draw on Saturday.
It was their FIRST goalless draw of the season and the first time their match did not record a goal.
ZPC KARIBA
Considered one of the most boring teams in the Premier League, ZPC Kariba were the biggest winners this weekend when they thumped newcomers Kwekwe United 5-0 at Nyamhunga on Saturday.
It was the FIRST time they won 5-0 and they also became the FIRST team to win 5-0 in the Premier League this season. ZPC Kariba had managed just one goal in their previous five matches and then score five in one match.
FC PLATINUM
Norman Mapeza’s charges were held to a goalless draw by Greenfuel on Saturday.
It was the FIRST time they have drawn 5 of opening six games
It was the FIRST time to drop 10 points in six games without losing a match.
CHICKEN INN
Former champions, Chicken Inn have had a poor start to the season and Sunday’s 1-0 win over Dynamos at Rufaro was a timely boost for the coaches.
It was the FIRST win of the season.
HERENTALS COLLEGE
Herentals hosted MWOS at Wadzanai Stadium in Shamva but suffered a 1-0 defeat that left them in 12th place.
It was their FIRST home game away from Rufaro.
It was the FIRST time they lost to an own goal this season.
DYNAMOS
The fading Harare giants found themselves losing to Chicken Inn on an afternoon they had promised to get things right.
It was the FIRST time they lost at home this season.
It was the FIRST time to lose back-to-back matches this season.
YADAH
The Miracle Boys bounced back from defeat at Greenfuel to snatch a point from fancied Scottland at Rufaro on Saturday.
It was the FIRST home match away from Heart Stadium this season.
BIKITA MINERALS
Bikita Minerals beat Triangle 2-1 secured their FIRST win of the season after a poor start to the campaign, which left them among the bottom two.
Bikita Minerals scored directly from a corner for the FIRST time in the win against Triangle.
Bikita Minerals were playing at Gibbo for the FIRST time and started by hosting the stadium “owners” Triangle.
The goal by Triangle meant that Bikita Minerals were among the FIRST teams to concede double figures this season.
KWEKWE UNITED
The Premiership newcomers were humiliated 5-0 at ZPC Kariba on Saturday.
They became the FIRST team to lose 5-0 this season.
Kwekwe United became the joint FIRST team to concede at least 10 goals this season on Saturday.
CAPS UNITED
CAPS United missed numerous chances in the 1-0 defeat against Highlanders at Barbourfields on Sunday.
It was the FIRST time to lose three in a row this season and they slumped to 17th in the 18-team league
CAPS United became the FIRST team to concede a goal in the first minute this season.
TRIANGLE
Luke Masomere’s charges seemed set for maiden victory but conceded two late goals against Bikita Minerals.
It was the FIRST defeat at Gibbo in their second match at their venue, the first having ended in a 1-1 draw against Highlanders.
Triangle became the FIRST team to concede a goal directly from a corner this season.
Triangle became the FIRST team to concede at least 10 goals so far this season together with Bikita Minerals and Kwekwe United.
