Students run riot
Herentals… (1) 4 Yadah Stars …. 0
HERENTALS might be famed for their pink home kit but they have struck a purple patch in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign.
Just under a week after they upstaged Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium, they ruthlessly dispatched Yadah Stars at the same venue yesterday and condemned the “Miracle Boys” to the relegation zone.
On a day when most teams in the lower end of the log were in action and battling to stay afloat, focus was more on Yadah in their fight for survival.
However, it was not to be, as Herentals picked up the biggest win in their five years in the Premiership.
A brace by Davison Marowa and a goal apiece from Blessing Majarira and second-half substitute John Zhuwawo sealed an emphatic victory for the Students.
Yadah coach Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe, who was short of words after yesterday’s encounter, is not throwing in the towel yet.
“It was a bad day in office; a terrible day for us. We exhibited the worst performance from Yadah Stars and I take the blame from what happened, but we are convinced that we will retain our Premiership status come end of year,” said Jongwe.
Herentals gaffer Kumbirai Mutiwekuziwa could not hide his joy.
“Yadah have always given us problems and I am happy with this result, and for us to get so much goals brings with it more confidence to the team,” he said.
Herentals are now targeting a top-four finish.
“We are aiming at a strong finish and be among the best four teams this season, and with such results, I do not see what will stop us.”
Although it was a fast-paced game, neither side was able to carve out meaningful scoring chances earlier on.
Yadah looked to be the better side going forward and could have found the breakthrough inside the opening 30 minutes had Junior Zindoga been clinical in front of goal.
Instead, it was Herentals who broke the deadlock in the 32nd minute when Marowa came from the blind side to tap in a Milton Chimedza cross. The goal brought a bit more urgency into the match.
Mutiwekuziwa made a tactical substitution at the start of the second half, bringing on Tafadzwa Jim for Innocent Benza.
Three minutes later, the move paid dividends as Jim broke loose on the right flank and sent a low cross into the Yadah penalty box, which Marowa connected to get his brace. It did not help Yadah’s cause that fellow relegation candidates ZPC Kariba and Simba Bhora picked up maximum points on the same day.
ZPC Kariba upset champions FC Platinum 2-1 at Nyamhunga Stadium, while hosts Bulawayo Chiefs suffered their third consecutive defeat in the league after falling 1-0 to Simba Bhora at Luveve.
Simba Bhora were quick off the blocks and opened the scoring with just three minutes on the clock.
A perfect through ball from Tinashe Balakasi sent Tymon Machope clear and the forward charged at goal before slotting home from close range.
It was Machope’s sixth goal of the season.