tawandamusarurwa
Walter Nyamukondiwa in KARIBA and Lovemore Kadzura in RUSAPE
AFTER guaranteeing their survival with a crucial point away against Highlanders last weekend, ZPC Kariba ended an otherwise tumultuous Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season on a high note with an inspired show against Herentals yesterday.
The electricity men finally remembered how to win convincingly when they secured a 3-1 victory over Herentals at Nyamhunga.
That result somewhat put a damper on Herentals’ Chibuku Super Cup final preparations against Bulawayo Chiefs.
The Students had been on a roll and last week upstaged Dynamos 1-0 at the National Sports Stadium.
ZPC got off the blocks first after a shaky start, scoring in the 32nd minute through a tap in from Ashabel Chiunye.
The home side increased their lead three minutes after the break when Moses Demera found the target.
Herentals coach, Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva, then pulled out the Premierships’ oldest player Innocent Benza in a bid to add pace to his team’s attack.
They subsequently pulled one back in the 69th minute via defender Godfrey Mukambi.
Their joy however, lasted just two minutes as veteran Demera sealed his brace.
Herentals did not drop their heads and kept pressing and nearly scored in the 79th minute before they missed a penalty nine minutes from time.
ZPC coach, Darlington Dodo, felt the win would give them the platform from which to build on for next season.
“We will rebuild from what we have seen towards the end of the season. The team played very well, though we were sluggish at first,” Dodo said.
Mutiwekuziva gave credit to ZPC Kariba for consistency during the match and blamed complacency from his charges.
“The result shows how well ZPC played but the boys showed a lot of complacency which we must deal with ahead of our Chibuku Super Cup final against Bulawayo Chiefs,” said Mutiwekuziva.
In Rusape, it was always going to be mission impossible for Bulawayo City who needed to win their last match against Black Rhinos by 10 goals and hoping that Herentals would defeat ZPC Kariba for them to pull a Premiership survival Houdini Act.
Alas, ZPC Kariba won convincingly against Herentals while Bulawayo City could only manage a 0-0 draw against Black Rhinos at Vengere.
That put their relegation into the Southern Region Division One League beyond doubt.
Bulawayo City had always joined Harare City, Tenax and WhaWha in the drop zone.
The Bulawayo municipal outfit were already a ‘dead men walking’ before the start of yesterday’s game.
They arrived at Vengere 40 minutes before kick-off. The body language of players as they went through their hurried warm up confirmed they had given up the fight.
They were not alone in showing up late for the encounter.
The match officials, ZRP police details and the ambulance crew also arrived late forcing a delayed start to proceedings.
With his team safely tucked in mid-table, Rhinos coach Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa also gave a chance to some of his younger players and he sent into battle 15 year-old Principe Magondo as a second half substitute.
Mtizwa was satisfied with the result despite missing on a top-four finish.
“The boys played well although we didn’t win.
“Our opponents are a good side and they matched us well. We missed top-four position and we have to prepare for next season. We gave a number of youngsters an opportunity as they will form the team’s back bone next season,” Mtizwa said.
City coach, Farai Tawachera, was satisfied with the draw and said they are going to Division One knowing that some circumstances beyond their control contributed to their demise.
“We played well especially in the second half. It’s unfortunate that we have been playing well.
“Some decisions (officiating) contributed and some referees were banned but what about the points we lost?
“I love this team so much and we will be together in Division One where we are not going to stay,” Tawachera said.
Online Reporter