Castle Lager Matchday 2 Round-Up

Perkins-Tino Bare
The biggest match in matchday 2 of the Castle Lager premier soccer league was the match at the National Sports Stadium pitting Mark Harrison`s side Caps United who struggled to gain a 1-0 win against a resilient FC Platinum side as they maintained their 100 percent start to the new Castle Premiership season. Left back Ronald Pfumbidzai came through for his team with wonder goal 16 minutes before the end.
Their gaffer Mark Harrison could not hide his side`s 100 percent start to the season as he went on to say “Six points in two games we are in front of our targets I set for myself already which is good,” Harrison said after the game.“It gives us a little bit of breathing space in our next game maybe. But you know look; it was not a prettiest performance; we were playing against one of the best sides in the league. They are very comfortable with the ball. In the first half we gave them too much room and time to play but we closed up a little bit in the second half and controlled the game.It was not the greatest performance but if you can play badly and win then it’s not bad for the team.”


The losing coach on the day Norman Mapeza bemoaned the missed chances that his side were gifted as though his side dominated the proceeedings, they could not get past Victor Twaliki who has replaced Tafadzwa Dube quite well behind the nets.“It happens in football, we just need to keep working hard,” Mapeza said in a post-match interview. “We lacked in the final third, we created some descent chances but we could not score. Its football we need to work hard and hope we get positive results in our next assignments.“Remember these are first matches of the season, we just need to work and redeem ourselves in our future matches.” 

At Barbourfields Highlanders bagged their first set of three points as they beat newboys Tsholotsho FC 1-0 after Teenage Hadebe scored the all important goal for the Bulawayo giants in the 34th minute when he caught out Tsholotsho goalkeeper Mariyoni Chang with a well executed lob from 25 metres out. The win eased pressure off a coach who still has a lot to do in term of winning over the Highlanders faithfuls and given the huge boots left behind by Kelvin Kaindu who is now at Triangle Fc that just makes his task all the more difficult.
“It was a hard game to win. Our opponents had good midfield interplay. We really need to work more on our finishing, We got chances to score more than four goals. We are creating clear-cut chances but not converting them.” said the relieved Mafu in an interview.

In Rusape at Vengere Stadium the expensively assembled How Mine also picked up their first set of three points . The gutsy Dongo Sawmills went down 1-2 in a closely contested encounter as Wonder Sithole drew first blood for the visitors before the leagues debutants rallied back and were level 14 minutes from time through Kelvin Katindika’s strike. Second half substitute Benjamin Marere, however, broke the sawmill as he headed home the winner for How mine four minutes before the end.

How Mine`s Luke Masomere were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw by Chapungu in their opening match of the season last weekend went on to say “I have seven players on my injury list and I’m happy with the performance of the boys today,” Masomere said in an interview. Dongo Sawmills gaffer Shadreck Mugurasave felt his side lost due to schoolboy blunders as they are yet to shake off that Division 1 hangover .“The match was fair and balanced. We only conceded because of simple defensive mistakes,” Mugurasave said in an interview.

Also at the same venue Kelvin Kaindu`s Triangle were held to a disappointing draw by the armyside Buffaloes. Lloyd Katongomara opened the scoring

for Buffaloes when riffled home off a loose ball inside the box after 34 minutes of play. Second half substitute Hillary Bakacheza levelled the scores for the Kelvin Kaindu`s men 15 minutes from time after reacting first to fire home following a goal-mouth scramble.
Buffaloes coach, Joseph Tangaringofa who replaced Moses Chunga was however disappointed with the result. “We should have won the match but we failed to defend our lead and we are going to address it at training,’’ said Takaringofa in an inerview. Kelvin Kaindu was also disappointed that his side failed to build on their opening weekend 5-2 thrashing of Hwange which sent shivers down the spines of many by dropping points yesterday. “We were hoping to even score more goals after scoring five past Hwange,” he said in an interview.

In Gweru at Ascot Stadium in-form Ronald Chitiyo`s goal was enough for Dynamos as they saw off An elated Mandigora whose side is still yet to concede went on to say after the match“I’m happy with the players and supporters because we managed to collect three points,” he said in an interview .Mandigora also praised forward Simba Nhivi, who gave the Chapungu defenders a torrid time with his runs.“Simba played well, he worked hard and it is good for his confidence. This is going to be a tough season and we have to continue playing well,” he said in an interview.

His losing counterpart, Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino was, however, disappointed by his team's performance, saying Waru Waru did not create enough chances. The Air Force of Zimbabwe side are still yet to find the back of the net as they drew their opening encounter 0-0 with How Mine last weekend.“We need to work on scoring goals. I am not really moved by today’s the loss,” Nyikadzino said. He said his game plan was derailed when midfielder Maxwell Mavuto was substituted after taking a knock in the 33rd minute. For Chapungu its the striking force they need to focus on and as their gaffer confirmed they should get started early on it.

At Rufaro Stadium Harare City bounced back from their humbling opening loss to the newboys Tsholotsho FC when a Martin Vengesayi first half brace floored a disappointing 10-man Chicken Inn after only nine minutes of play. “It was always important to pick up three points after we had dropped points from our last home match. If we had lost today’s match it was going to impact negatively on us,” said Mangwiro in a lenghty interview.

A few roads down the lane at Gwanzura the first Prison`s derby ended in a 1-1 stalemate  Motion Muponda opened the scoring for the home side in the first half before Livingstone Genti equalised for Whawha late in the second period.Flame Lilly coach Lloyd Mutasa was left frustrated by the result after his side put on a splendid display by they could only walk away with one point.“We were a better team in the second half but we missed several chances and we need to correct it in our next matches,” Mutasa said after the match.“We respected our opponents much in the first half but we managed to claw back into the match in the second half but I think this draw will give my boys more confidence in our next matches.” Flame Lilly coach Nesbert Saruchera was, rather pleased with a draw.“From the start, I knew this was going to be a difficult match but I am happy to collect our first point in the top flight league,” he said in an interview.