Under-pressure Benjani loses again
Yadah…........................ (1) 1 Ngezi Platinum Stars… 0
AT his unveiling ceremony in Mhondoro on March 29, Benjani Mwaruwari told the media he wanted “to be remembered for the good things”. But it seems there is nothing so good about his reign so far at Ngezi Platinum Stars, who suffered yet another defeat against Yadah at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Tanaka Shandirwa’s solitary strike two minutes before half time settled matters, as Ngezi had another woeful day in Harare.
The last time Ngezi Platinum Stars were in the capital they were thumped 3-0 by Herentals at the same venue on July 9.
It was Mwaruwari’s fourth loss since taking over from Rodwell Dhlakama in March.
The former Warriors skipper has now presided over 13 matches.
He has three wins, six draws and four losses. Mwaruwari has managed 15 out of 39 points, translating to a 38 percent success rate.
The gaffer made some changes to his starting line-up once again, benching star player Denver Mukamba. Mukamba was only introduced in the last 15 minutes. Mwaruwari acknowledged that his team’s inconsistent run brings with it pressure from fans.
“Of course, if you are not winning everyone will be under pressure,” said Mwaruwari.
“When you play away and you concede, it’s difficult to come back.
“Second half we pushed so hard but we didn’t get the goal.
“We now need to rectify the mistakes we made today,’’ he said.
One of those mistakes was some sloppy marking, which allowed Yadah to find their goal. Shandirwa raced onto a loose ball inside the box and fired past a diving Nelson Chadya.
Yet it was Ngezi Platinum Stars who got their first clear chance in the 20th minute when striker Tinotenda Murasiranwa headed wide after he was picked by Ariel Makopa.
Murasiranwa’s snapshot 15 minutes later was dealt with by an alert Yadah keeper Panashe Nyabunga. It was the hosts who dominated possession, which they could, however, not turn into clear-cut chances.
Yadah’s first real chance came in the 40th minute when skipper Godknows Mangani bustled his way past Polite Moyo before poking the ball wide.
Ngezi were quick off the blocks in the second period and thought they had won a penalty when Murasiranwa fell under challenge inside the box in the 52nd minute, but the referee turned down their pleas.
The 21-year-old then had another chance a few minutes later, with his header off a corner kick bouncing over the bar.
At the other end, Vincent Sango’s glancing header flew over in the 66th minute as Yadah almost got a second against the run of play.
Two minutes later, Mwaruwari made his first change bringing in Delic Murimba for Anelka Chivandire.
He then brought on Mukamba in the 75th minute but the star player this time could not change things as Yadah clung onto their lead.
“It was a game of high intensity and we had to adjust,” said Yadah coach Genesis Mangombe.
“We created some chances and we managed to score.”
Yadah extended their unbeaten run to five games as they moved to 27 points.
Interestingly, Yadah have beaten Ngezi by identical 1-0 wins in their last three league meetings in Harare.
Ngezi remain stuck on 30 points and could have moved into the top four with a win yesterday.
TEAMS:
Yadah: P. Nyabunga, L. Mucheto, T. Gahadzikwa, T. Shandirwa (B. Ndereki 90 +1), C. Mandivei, M. Faranando, F. Binzi, B. Kadamanja, G. Mangani (R. Matema 70th), A. Manenji, V. Sango (A. Freddy 70th)
Ngezi Platinum Stars: N. Chadya, P. Moyo, A. Makopa, K. Chigwida, M. Kwinjo, C. Mavhurume, L. Kashitigu (D. Mukamba 75th), A. Chivandire (D. Murimba 68th), B. Mtigo, W. Makuva, T. Musariranwa