Cheetahs in sprinting start
COOL, calm and collected, Cheetahs’ head coach Gilbert Nyamutsamba yesterday cast the figure of content man.
After his charges’ near flawless start to the second edition of the Kwese Victoria Falls Sevens tournament, Nyamutsamba declared that the best was yet to come.
“We have had a good start to the tournament; our first couple of wins have been quite convincing, and I am happy with the performance of the boys. It is my hope now that we can continue with that momentum for the rest of the tournament,” he said.
Nyamutsamba had just watched his side breeze through the opening day of the Kwese Sevens at Victoria Falls Primary School with impressive wins over Zambia B (26-0), Lesotho (51-0) and False Bay (14-0), before losing 12-14 against Kenya.
But when asked to rate the Cheetahs show against the challenges that are coming, next month’s Hong Kong Sevens and the Sevens World Cup, Nyamutsamba admitted that he would have loved to pit his wits against stronger opposition.
“Listen, after having seen both the Kenyan and Ugandan sides play, I happy that they brought strong competitive sides and it will certainly be a tough and tricky tournament,” he said.
“However, I would have liked more. I would have really preferred to play in more tournaments; more competitive tournaments that is.
“It would have made for better reading had we faced stronger sides; teams, say, we will meet at next month’s Hong Kong Sevens tournament and the World Cup. But as usual, we have to do the best with what we have got and right now this is the best of what’s there.” Germany and Hong Kong did not make it to the tournament as their invitations were sent late.
To cover the gap, Zimbabwe brought in the Cheetahs, Goshawks and the Zambezi Steelers.
“We have actually come out with three fairly competitive teams and I am even pleased that our second team performed really well and actually out-performed Zambia.
It just goes to show the large pool of players that we have here,” said Nyamutsamba
Selected Results Zambezi Steelers 26-14 Spartans (Botswana)
Goshawks 31- 19 Zambia A Goshawks 21- 5 Zambezi Steelers Cheetahs 26-0 Zambia B Uganda 24-10 Zambezi Steelers Cheetahs 51-0 Lesotho Goshawks 14-19 Uganda Cheetahs 14-0 False Bay Zambia A 33-7 Zambezi Steelers CHAMPIONS FC Platinum’s quest to defend their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title yesterday got off to a perfect start as they dispatched a seemingly demotivated Yadah FC at Mandava and were awarded a further three points by the PSL.
On a day the visitors never got out of first gear, amid reports that the players and technical team have gone unpaid for a couple of months, the Pure Platinum Play pair of Edwin Madhanhanga and Marshall Mudehwe capped fine performances with a goal each.
The result took the miners’ points tally to six after the Premier Soccer League yesterday awarded them the CITY abandoned game against ZPC Kariba on a 3-0 score line.
FC Platinum were off to an explosive start at Mandava, in the ninth minute after Mudehwe outpaced his markers before firing home.
Midway through the opening half Mudehwe was at it again, zooming past defenders Arial Makopa and Byron Madzokere, but was not clinical enough to beat Samuel Mafukidze in goal for the visitors.
Madanhanga doubled the lead when he controlled a Rodwell Chinyengetere assist with his chest before firing a low shot beyond Mafukidze on 42 minutes.
Mudehwe was then stretchered off moments before the breather after succumbing to what looked like a pulled muscle.
FC Platinum controlled the match after the breather too and could have scored a third at the death but Never Tigere’s effort crashed against the crossbar.
Yadah coach Thomas Ruzive tried hard to dispel romours that his charges are low on morale.
“We have been getting our salaries and the guys are motivated, I do not know what people are talking about. My salary is coming.
“We played well but unfortunately we lost this match and that is part of football. We will work on our mistakes and improve in our next game,” said Ruzive whose side drew 2-all with Bulawayo Chiefs in their opening game.
FC Platinum interim coach Lizwe Sweswe welcomed the maximum points. “We played well and I am happy we managed to collect three points at home. We have started the season very well and need to push like that. “Our target is to defend the title and to do that we need to start the season on a good note,” said Sweswe. Teams: FC Platinum; F Tizayi, Mudhuviwa, G Bello, K Moyo, E Moyo, W Mhango, R Chinyengetere (N Tigere 90), F Madhananga, M Mudehwe (F Mupasiri 46), M Dube (A Eonde 78), A Sadiki Yadah FC; S Mafukidze, W Kalongoda, W Chakanyuka, B Madzokere, A Makopa, B Mapfumo, D Savanhu (J Sibanda 46), M Chiwara (L Murape 46), R Matema, E Karembo (K Kapikinyu 55), M Musiyakufa