adminLovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
Whawha 0-0 Chapungu
THE Gweru derby had all the ingredients of rivalry except for goals as Whawha and Chapungu settled for a draw in a Premiership match at Ascot Stadium yesterday.
Whawha and Chapungu, whose rivalry dates back to 2012 when both sides were still in the Zifa Central Soccer League, failed to produce a goal for the first time in their encounters.
With so much at stake, it was no surprise that Whawha patron and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service Deputy Commissioner-General Rhodes Moyo attended the match as Air Force of Zimbabwe Thornhill Airbase commander Group Captain George Ngundu also watched the game, rooting for Chapungu.
The match started with Whawha threatening to overrun their opponents but they failed to convert.
However, the airmen slowly crawled back into the match. They also failed to utilise their chances with the club’s top scorer, Tinei Chitora the main culprit.
The second half started with Whawha on the ascendancy. They could have surged ahead in the 58th minute when ageless Marlven Nyakabangwe engineered a move involving the exciting Cleopas Kapupurika.
Kapupurika whipped in a cross that was met by Roy Useni, who somehow misdirected his header. Useni again found himself at the end of another attack in the 71st minute but he was a shade too slow.
Chapungu had their moments. On one occasion, former Dynamos forward Allan Tavarwisa took advantage of a Vimbai Madamombe miscue but his speculative effort was dealt with by Stanley Chakwana in goals for the prison wardens.
Caleb Masocha could have earned Whawha victory on the stroke of full time but his effort missed the target from close range.
Whawha technical adviser, Lloyd Mutasa rued the missed chances but expressed satisfaction with the draw.
“This is a derby and when you miss chances like that, this is a result that you get. However, being a derby it’s a fair result,” he said.
His counterpart, John Nyikadzino said: “It’s normal that we get a result like this. I expected it because this is a derby. It’s like we were playing our B side so it was difficult for us to play our game. I’m happy with a point we got because it’s a plus for us as we now have 22 points.”
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