Manondo inspires CAPS Utd victory
CAPS UNITED got their campaign back on track after securing consecutive wins for the first time this season with a win over Bulawayo City in a drab Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
After hogging the limelight following his hattrick against Whawha last week, veteran striker William Manondo was the hero again for Makepekepe by scoring the game’s solitary goal.
The former Harare City player broke the deadlock in the 71st minute to decide the match, which seemed on course to end in a draw.
Manondo showed composure to beat the Bulawayo City goalkeeper Bhekimpilo Ncube in a move that involved Rodwell Chinyengetere and substitute Clive Augusto.
The goal was a welcome relief for CAPS
United, who had their goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga to thank for keeping them in the match with some fine saves in the match, which could’ve gone either way.
Ncube also had his brilliant moments in goal for City, but ultimately the home side came up short in their bid to at least salvage a point from the contest.
CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe lamented his players’ failure to maintain the same ruthlessness they displayed in last week’s 6-0 destruction of Whawha, but was ultimately happy with the win which takes them within six points of leaders Chicken Inn.
"It was a good result for us. We were not as fluid as we usually are, but at the end of the day, we managed to get a positive result," Chitembwe said.
His counterpart Philani Ncube, who made the headlines last week for claiming that the majority of players in the local topflight league use drugs, admitted CAPS United were the better side.
"It was a game of halves which could’ve gone either way. In the end they were the better side. They had one chance that they created and they buried it while we failed to convert our opportunities," Ncube said.
The result meant CAPS United moved into seventh position on 10 points from seven matches while Bulawayo City are in danger of a quick return to the Southern Region Division One league as they occupy 14th position with a paltry five points.
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League results & fixtures
Yesterday: ZPC Kariba 0-0 Bulawayo Chiefs, Harare City 0-0 Chicken Inn, Black Rhinos 0-0 FC Platinum, Ngezi Platinum Stars 3-1 Cranborne Bullets (Baobab), Bulawayo City 0-1 CAPS United
Today: Whawha v Yadah (Ascot), Manica Diamonds v Triangle (Sakubva), Dynamos v Tenax (National Sports Stadium), Highlanders v Herentals (Barbourfields).