Andrew
From Lovemore Kadzura in RUSAPE
Black Rhinos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Cranborne Bullets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
CLUB legend Stanford “Stix’’ Mtizwa got off to just the kind of start he would have wished for as Black Rhinos coach when his soldiers won this Castle Lager Premier Soccer League “Battle of the Barracks” against Cranborne Bullets at Vengere Stadium yesterday.
And the winner came from an unlikely source. Veteran defender Dennis Dauda, who, like Mtizwa, is a relative newcomer having joined Rhinos after a sensational fallout with CAPS United, headed home the decider in the 85th minute. Mtizwa, who has had an on-and-off coaching relationship with Rhinos, was given the reigns following the sacking of Herbert Maruwa last week.
In an otherwise tightly contested match, a draw could have been the fairest result.
It was a game of few scoring opportunities as both Mtizwa and his Cranborne Bullets counterpart Nesbert “Yabo’’ Saruchera congested their midfield departments.
Bullets were the better side in the first half and dominated Rhinos on the right wing, where the slippery Jarrison Selemani was operating.
Early in the ninth minute, Selemani received a through-pass from the right flank but his first-time shot towards goal went over.
The goal-hungry Selemani was back again five minutes later but also skied his effort. Rhinos midfielder Denzel Mutudza then came close in the 21st minute but Bullets goalkeeper Herbert Rusawo was equal to the challenge.
The tide swung in Rhinos favour in the second half in which they found a way to snuff out the pockets of space that Selemani had been enjoying.
With it, the Bullets threat was limited.
Then former Warriors defender Dauda capitalised from poor communication from the Bullets defenders, who failed to clear a harmless-looking cross, to head home from close range.
Mtizwa was happy to get a win that also calms nerves in the Rhinos dressing room. “Firstly, I am happy with the win, we are coming from a loss to Triangle and also the departure of the former coach (Maruwa) affected the boys, but somehow we managed to fight. “We were playing our sister club and it’s a tricky derby … They are very good in midfield but we congested them with many ball players and it paid dividends.
“After the loss to Triangle, we slumped from fifth position to eight and today we are back at number five, and we hope to maintain the consistency and finish in a strong position,” said Mtizwa.
Saruchera, whose own charges have also struggled for consistency in their debut season in the Premiership, was disappointed with the outcome and felt they should have at least salvaged a point.
“Our game was not too bad but our greatest weakness was poor conversion.
“We created so many chances but failed to convert. A draw was the fairest result.
“Our objective is to survive the chop and we are going to fight to the end with this young team so that we survive.”
Results:
Harare City 0 — 2 FC Platinum
ZPC Kariba 0 — 0 Chicken Inn
Black Rhinos 1 — 0 Cranborne Bullets
WhaWha 1 — 2 CAPS United
Bulawayo City 0 — 1 Herentals
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter