Online Reporter
Onward Gangata
Kwekwe United 0–1 Yadah
IT was chaos before kick-off, and not much better after, as troubled Kwekwe United slumped to a narrow 1-0 defeat against Yadah in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at Bata Stadium on Saturday.
The match started 25 minutes late after stadium owners Sheasham FC locked the gates, demanding that Kwekwe United settle their rental arrears before allowing the fixture to proceed. The off field drama clearly unsettled the basement side, who never fully recovered.
Yadah took full advantage of the disruption, dominating the early exchanges and eventually forcing an own goal from defender Genesis Munashe after 17 minutes, a scrappy but decisive moment that sealed all three points.
The win lifted Yadah to 23 points and out of the relegation zone, into 13th place.
Kwekwe United coach Masimba Dinyero didn’t mince his words, pointing fingers at the club’s administrative turmoil.
“These disturbances before matches affect the boys badly. They lose concentration and focus,” he said. “We need these youngsters to be in the right mindset from the beginning to the end. But that’s impossible when we have this kind of disorganisation.”
Kwekwe United rallied in the second half, showing flashes of attacking promise but failing to convert their chances. Yadah, meanwhile, sat back and protected their lead, doing just enough to grind out the win.
Their coach, Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe, admitted his team had been far from their best.
“It was a difficult game. There are no easy matches in the PSL,” he said. “I thought Kwekwe gave us a scare. They didn’t create many chances, but they gave us a real fight. We were rushing things, especially in the first half.”
Teams
Kwekwe United: Elton Nechiware, Genesis Munashe, Jealous Musukutwa (Marlon Nyawaranda 73’), Tafadzwa Muzenda, Lenox Chibi, Junior Sibanda (Nigel Nkosimane 46’), Rivary Samanyika (Clive Mushori), Timothy January, Takudzwa Chimhowa, Shelton Sibanda, Emmanuel Mutimbanyoka.
Yadah: Taimon Mvula, King Nadolo (F. Mustafa 76’), Tanaka Chikumba (I. Muchaneka 62’), Evans Rusike (V. Sango 62’), Terrence Daka, Anotidaishe Gwatidzo (Ryan Ncube 46’), Marvelous Faranando, Sonny Mewali, Jerry Chipangura (E. Chitauro 86’), Terrence Maguranyanga, Takunda Vareta.
