Tarumbwa punishes former paymasters
Bulawayo Chiefs ……………..... 0 Bulawayo City ………………… . (0) 1 VETERAN striker Obadiah Tarumbwa came back to haunt his former paymasters as his injury time goal ensured Bulawayo City collected maximum points against a 10-men Bulawayo Chiefs outfit in a Castle Lager Premier League encounter yesterday.
Tarumbwa, who was offloaded by Chiefs in the mid-season transfer window, found the target with a header from a Leslie Lunga cross inside the two minutes of added time to hand Bulawayo City the crucial three points.
The victory took second from bottomplaced Bulawayo City’s points tally to 27. They are now just a point behind Tenax and Harare City who are also in the relegation zone.
City had endured a frustrating afternoon where they had failed to find a goal despite dominating play and Chiefs being a man down. Chiefs captain, Malvin Mkolo was shown a straight red card three minutes before the break. The defender who on that occasion was the last line of defence hacked down Itai Makopa outside the box.
Referee Pilan Ncube was left with no choice but to send the defender for an early shower.
Bulawayo Chiefs stand-in coach, Thulani Sibanda said that was the moment that changed the game’s trajectory.
“I think we played well because we created chances. Obviously, the red card was the turning point. Being one man down we had to work extra hard and in terms of energy and concentration levels it was going to be difficult as the game progressed,” said Sibanda.
The Chiefs assistant took charge of the team as Nilton Terroso who is headed back to Portugal after his permit expired watched from the stands. His opposite number, Farai Tawachera was visibly an elated man.
“It was a difficult game. I am glad we got that goal having missed a lot of chances.
Chiefs are a brilliant team if you look at the quality they have. We brought in the experienced Tarumbwa and Welcome Ndiweni to try and rescue the game from them. The gamble paid off.
“They gave us something when they came on. I was telling my boys this team has got quality. The more you think they are 10 men the more dangerous they are. In terms of the relegation fight, we just need to play our games and see where it takes us,” said Tawachera.
It was a highly physical encounter from the start which saw Chiefs commit 14 fouls in the first-half compared to City’s eight. Genius Mutungamiri had his free-kick from a wide position on the right scooped out for a corner-kick by Matriples Muleya in goal for Chiefs after six minutes.
Mutungamiri had another free-kick again pushed out for a corner by Muleya on the 20th minute mark.
Lunga delivered a perfect from the right to find Makopa inside the box. The latter’s header was easily saved by Muleya as it lacked power 34 minutes into the match.
Mutungamiri found himself with plenty of space inside the City half eight minutes into the second but blazed his effort over the cross bar.
After 57 minutes of play, Elshamar Farasi watched his header from inside the box off a Lunga cross go wide.
Chiefs defender Mclive Phiri drew a good save from Reward Muza through a free-kick from outside the box deep into the second-half.
Obriel Chirinda found himself through on goal with five minutes to full-time and fired straight at Muza in-between the sticks for Amakhosi.
Teams
Bulawayo Chiefs: Matriples Muleya, Ben Nyahunzwi, Wilson Mensah (Kelvin Madzongwe 45 mins), Hughe Chikosa (Mthokozisi Msebe 77 mins), Arthur Musiyiwa (Billy Veremu 87 mins), Obriel Chirinda, Malvin Mkolo, Kevin Moyo, Panashe Shoko (Farau Matare 63 mins), Perfect Chikwende, MacClive Phiri
Bulawayo City: Reward Muza, Mpumelelo Bhebhe, Lukas Sibanda, Genius Mutungamiri, Cedric Chinomona (Nqobile Ndlovu 68 mins), Solomon Sithole (Welcome Ndiweni 87 mins), Elshamar Farasi (Obadiah Tarumbwa 68 mins), Crispen Machisi, Itayi Makopa (Melikhaya Ncube 68 mins) Leslie Lunga, Dalubuhle Dlodlo — Follow on Twitter @ innocentskizoe