When the lights went out for ZPC Kariba

Moffat Mungazi Sports Reporter
AFTER agonisingly coming close to winning the Castle Lager Premiership title in the their debut season in the top-flight league, ZPC Kariba learnt the hard way that it’s never over until the fat lady sings.

Having run a good race during the marathon, and with the title theirs to lose, the electricians shot themselves in the foot and, effectively, collapsed just before the finishing line.

Not even an attempt to limp over the finishing line could help them as champions Dynamos beat them to the biggest prize on the domestic football scene.

With CAPS United having clearly forewarned them that they would not be generous, and do them any favours, ZPC Kariba should have got into this match forearmed.

To take it for granted that CAPS United would be the cheering bridesmaids, spewing confetti as they walked down the aisle of Premiership glory, was quite as sentimental as it was suicidal for ZPC Kariba.

Against Makepekepe, not only did they give the lead away, but also the match as well and, ultimately, the championship.

Understandably, the only excuse for finishing as runners-up, Saul Chaminuka’s charges can have is that they crumbled under the weight of pressure.

But ZPC Kariba’s pain was self-inflicted. They lost their concentration, with Makepekepe catching them off-guard, and Dynamos sneaked onto the podium.

Perhaps, ZPC Kariba choked from the load exerted on them by both expectation, and the relentless pressure exerted by DeMbare, and fell just short of lasting the distance, as they gasped for breath.

The Premiership newboys could not keep the momentum, gathered against Dynamos in the penultimate match, going and lacked the same fighting, never-say-die spirit, which won them that tie.

Their approach against CAPS United was a bit casual, which appeared to be their fatal flaw, and they paid dearly for that.

And by the time it dawned on them that their opponents meant serious business, which realisation must have hit them where it hurts most, it was a little too late for ZPC Kariba to salvage something out of the match and rescue their losing cause.

While they appeared to have had hold on the championship trophy, the Premiership debutantes could not wrap it up and proved to be their own worst enemies for failing to keep a grip on the prize that had appeared theirs to lose.

It was only signed and sealed, but not yet delivered.

For ignoring history, or refusing to learn from it, which played itself out twice — with CAPS United erecting the barrier and Dynamos benefiting to clinch gold, as was the exact scenario last season — this was tragic for the Zimbabwe Power Company outfit.

It’s tragic that it killed the team and players’ dreams of being crowned champions in a record-matching dream debut season. With the fat lady not singing for them, Murphy’s law must have also dealt them a cruel blow.

Perhaps the only cold comfort that the electricians can derive out of their colossal collapse is that they would take it as a full apprenticeship, one during which they paced out the full length and breadth of the rugged terrain of the Premiership workshop.

After having learnt the hard way during your maiden season in the top-flight league, welcome to the Premiership, ZPC Kariba, and its bruising battle for the championship.