Chapungu fly past Rovers Waru Waru challenge PSL decision
Bantu Rovers FC 0-1 Chapungu FC CHAPUNGU recorded their first away win of the season by edging struggling Bantu Rovers in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Luveve stadium yesterday.
Raymond Sibanda scored the solitary goal in the 57th minute with a well-taken free-kick from the edge of the box after Tinei Chitora had been felled by Munyaradzi Chitambwe.
Sibanda curled his free-kick past diving Bantu Rovers’ goalkeeper Notice Dube into the top left corner of the net.
Chapungu had been finding the going tough away from home, suffering three defeats and drawing the same number of games.
Their coach Tendai Chikuni said the win came as a big relief.
“This is a big relief to us a team, as you know this is our first win away. We really needed this win because we have been getting draws away from home. It was a tough match against Bantu Rovers’ youngsters and we knew they will be confident after their draw against Ngezi Platinum Stars. The guys really did well after last week’s performance against Dynamos, so this is an opportunity to pick ourselves up and look forward to our next match against Chicken Inn,” said Chikuni.
The first half was an end-to-end affair with both teams enjoying good spells, but failing to test the goalkeepers.
The first real chance of the game fell to Chapungu in the 32nd minute, but Brighton Mugoni’s left foot shot was saved by Dube.
Rovers’ Newman Sianchali also had a chance from inside the box in the 43rd minute but lack of composure CHAPUNGU have rejected the Premier Soccer League (PSL)’s decision to charge them for causing the abandonment of their Castle Lager Premiership encounter against Dynamos at Ascot Stadium last weekend.
Chapungu chief executive officer Air Commodore Innocent Chiganze said the incident was beyond the club’s control and they would be consulting lawyers for advice on the way forward.
“We will consult our lawyers on the way forward because we feel that the incident was beyond our control. We lease Ascot Stadium from (Gweru City) Council and issues to do with goal posts lies with the local authority,” said Chiganze.
“In any case, the stadium was given the green light to host Premiership matches, including on the day after inspection by the match officials. I hope football will be the winner at the end of the day when the case is heard.”
saw him skying his effort.
Chapungu were more determined in the second half and created a number of chances, which they either fluffed or were stopped by the Rovers’ rearguard of David Mubaiwa, Tapiwa Kumbuyani, Dumisani Ndlovu and Fortune Sibanda.
Mubaiwa was to receive a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Chapungu’s Manuel Mavuto on the edge of the box after having earlier been booked
Chapungu were charged for breaching the Premier Soccer League Rules and Regulations and will appear before the PSL Disciplinary Committee on Thursday “for causing the abandonment of a match due to failure to provide a replacement/reserve goal”.
“In terms of Order 31 of the PSL Rules and Regulations, It is an Act of Misconduct on the part of the club where; 31.1.17: Its officials cause the abandonment of a match,” read part of the press statement by PSL preferring charges against the airmen.
The match was abandoned in the 56th minute after the goal post fell, while Dynamos were leading 4-0.
This was after Dynamos’ Tichaona Chipunza’s speculative drive took an awkward bounce and when Chapungu goalkeeper Talbert Shumba retreated to deal with the ball, he landed on the goal post and it collapsed.
Efforts to fix the goal post were in vain and after a one hour 35 minute stoppage, match commissioner Israel Mugwagwa in consultation with referee Martin Chivandire called off the match.
for time wasting.
Despite the loss, Rovers’ assistant coach Joseph Sibindi insisted that his charges were still work in progress.
“The game was fair and I think the boys really played very well. It’s unfortunate that we are not getting the results that we want, but eventually we will get there. There has been a lot of improvement considering our previous games,” Sibindi said. — @khumzallen.