ZPC break winless jinx
ZPC KARIBA . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2)3 BLACK RHINOS . . . . . . . . . . (0)1
ZPC KARIBA yesterday produced a dominant first half performance to end a fourmatch winless run and kept Black Rhinos mired in relegation trouble in a match played at the National Sports Stadium.
The power utility side took the lead in the 35th minute when Fanuel Shoko rifled into the roof of the net from close range.
Kariba's lead was doubled by the outstanding Kudzanai Dhemere, who found the bottom right corner with an angled shot from a counter attack just before the halftime whistle.
It got even better for the Newsome Mutema-coached side 10 minutes after the break when Leroy Murape, who also had a good game, fired home after being set up by Dhemere.
Rhinos fought back in the second half and were duly rewarded with Sylon Chikwerengwe’s goal on 68th minute, but it proved to be just a consolation.
Yesterday’s victory saw ZPC Kariba end a run of four games without a win to move out of the relegation zone to 12th position with 11 points, while Rhinos remained at the basement of the log standings with six points after nine rounds of matches.
Mutema, who is in charge of the team after Darlington Dodo threw in the towel a fortnight ago, said he was impressed with the progress that his charges have made.
He has been in charge of two games so far, picking four points in the process.
"This is a good response from the guys, remember we are coming from a marathon of defeats. I admire the level of confidence and application from the boys, how they managed the game and how they took their chances."
Had ZPC Kariba been more clinical though, they could have scored more goals, with Shoko and substitute Everson Feremba wasting glorious chances from one-v-one situations after they were both put through by Dhemere's exquisite defence-splitting passes.
"He (Dhemere) was brilliant. He gave us the control that we wanted in attack and was making the right kind of passes. His choice of passes was excellent. He was also coming back in midfield to give us a block because Rhinos wanted to play a lot of balls in midfield but we managed to contain them because he was tactically switched on. This win will boost the players confidence," said Mutema who expressed his readiness for the task if he is appointed the substantive coach.
"Of course I'm ready, and the results are showing."
For Rhinos, after recent improvements in their showing especially in their goalless draw against log leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars last week when they were unfortunate to hit the bar four times, yesterday's performance was a real step back.
"We wanted to unsettle them in the early minutes but they quickly got settled and we were caught on the break everytime. We couldn't just cope up with their quick breaks," said Rhinos head coach Stix Mutizwa.
"In the second half, we tried to come back but we couldn't score enough goals. We were a changed side in the second half and we got our goal. We hope to carry on like that into the next game."
Asked if he is worried by the team's form and current position, he said: “Yes, we are worried but we are not panicking. We are not far away from those above us. We only need two wins and we can move from the bottom of the log. We are worried about our strike force because they are not scoring. We are working on it and at least we scored today which is a good sign. But while we always cry about the strikers, but today the defenders also lapsed and we were punished. So we are also going to work on that department." Teams
ZPC Kariba: T Chilenga, K Madima, I Nekati, M Diro, B Mutukure, T Pio, F Shoko, C Muleya, L Murape, K Dhemere, M Demera
Black Rhinos: P Chirimanyemba, C Nyakope, V Katsande, T Mchisa, P Milanzi, A Gahadzikwa (S Chikwerengwe, 46'), D Mutimuzunze (M Mahodobi, 48'), T Matongo, F Meya (P Gweva, 46'), N Mwasanga, M Svinurai