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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
FORMER Zimbabwe international goalkeeper, Edmore “ZiKeeper” Sibanda, featured for his new team, Gunners, on Wednesday, as a striker, and missed their best chance to win the match against Starbill.Sibanda, who was given a lifeline to return to football after his life ban from the game for his alleged role in the Asiagate match-fixing scam was lifted by ZIFA, turned for Gunners as their centre forward.
He appears to have shed a lot of weight and could have won the match for his new team when he used his body to create space, in a Northern Region Division One tie against Starbill, but then directed his effort wide from close range.
“We have to convert the chances we create because that is what makes all the difference,” Gunners assistant coach, James Matola, told The Herald.
“Eddie had a good chance and he should have taken the effort with his right, instead of left foot, and we could have won the match.”
Gunners’ president, Cuthbert Chitima, said his team lacked presence in the final third and they will need to do more to win games and compete for the sole ticket into the Premiership.
“We did not do more, in terms of attacking them, we always lacked numbers and effort in the opposition penalty box and we need to do more for us to win games,” said Chitima.
“The good thing is that these are still early days yet and we can see where we need to fix our challenges and I am confident that we will come right in the end.”
Sibanda didn’t last the entire game, which ended 1-1, after being replaced towards the end of the con- test.
Starbill, who spent the better part of last season in the relegation zone, fought for every ball on Wednesday but looked like a team content with getting a point.
They were coming from another goalless draw against Mushowani Stars.
Munyaradzi Chipo, who equalised from the spot, scored for Starbill after Gunners had taken the lead early in the game through McDonald Motsi.
Five games into the league race, Starbill are yet to win a match.
They have three draws and two defeats.
However, their coach, Elisha Mukusa, feels it’s still early to make a judgment although he feels their forwards could have done more.
“Actually, what I can say is we are getting better with each game, in fact I can say my boys played well considering that we were away from home.
“We were playing experienced players but we were better than them in terms of ball possession but we failed to convert our chances.
“Our major drawback has been failing to convert our chances mainly because we are using young players who are still adjusting to the competition in Division One.
“After 10 or so games we will know what to say in terms of performance and also our achievements.
“Obviously, we don’t want to be fighting relegation. Our problem so far has been that we are not scoring goals. But we haven’t conceded many goals too.
“It’s only that we need to work on our finishing,” said Mukusa.
Starbill will lock horns with former Premiership side Black Rhinos on Sunday at Gwanzura.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) we managed to score which we have been struggling to do and now that we have scored we have to fight hard and pick three points.
“And it can be a motivating factor for the young guys to know that they can score,” Mukusa said.
Herentals coach, Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva, said Wednesday’s 1-4 defeat to DStv Rangers was a wake-up call for his side. This was their first defeat in five matches and, for a new team, they have done well so far.
The loss saw them being displaced from the top of the table and plunge into seventh place.
“It speaks volumes and it’s good because we can see the areas we need to work on. “The defeat means we have got a lot to do and we have got to work hard and improve in a number of areas,” said Mutiwekuziva.
Herentals will travel to Karoi this weekend for a date against Karoi United tomorrow.
Weekend Fixtures
Tomorrow: Karoi United v Herentals (Chikangwe), Cargo Carriers v Ngezi Platinum (GMB Aspindale), Blue Jets v Seven Flames (Rimuka), ZRP Morris v Gunners (Morris, ZBC Live coverage), DC Academy v Blue Swallows (Tomlinson).
Sunday: DStv Rangers v Mushowani (Old Hararians, ZBC Live coverage), Darwin v Lake Harvest (Pfura Stadium), Zatex v ZRP FC (Alaska Stadium), Starbill v Black Rhinos (Gwanzura).
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