The Sunday Mail
Sports Correspondent
Bantu Rovers. . . . . . . . . . . . . (5) 7Yadah FC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
YADAH FC’S decision to play without their technical bench backfired in spectacular fashion as Bantu Rovers humiliated them 7-2 in a Castle Lager Premiership tie played at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
The match saw rising star Bukhosi Sibanda score a hat-trick, the first of the season; and ensured the season will end with at least one player having scored three goals in a single match, unlike last season.
The three goals saw Sibanda’s total goal tally for this season move to seven, the highest so far.
Yadah chairman, Everson Chatambudza declined to reveal the reasons why his team played without members of the technical team but sources in their camp said the club’s owner, Walter Magaya, told the coaches on Thursday they would not be travelling with the team to Bulawayo after losing to Dynamos last Sunday.
“We just have a minor internal problem that led to coaches not being with the team today but we will be revealing the reasons in due course.
“It does not have anything to do with the Dynamos match and I can’t say the coaches are on suspension, they are still part of the team set up and I am sure it will back to normal come next game,” he said.
Bantu Rovers quickly took charge of the match and were rewarded with a goal in the 5th minute when an impressive Obriel Chirinda, who provided four assists, beat the entire Yadah defence before sending it to Sibanda who slammed it into the nets.
Chirinda was also in the thick of things three minutes later, setting up Gladman Bharibhari who made it two.
Yadah reduced the deficit in the 13th minute when Morris Musiyakuvi’s shot from inside the edge of the box and curled to the near post, beating Notice Dube who was guarding the posts for Bantu.
Chirinda, Newman Sianchali and Sibanda added to Bantu’s tally in the 27th, 31st, and 42nd minutes respectively as they went to the break with a four goal cushion.
Sibanda and substitute Mbonisi Ncube added to Bantu’s goals in the second half while Musiyakuvi scored his second of the match in injury time.
Leading PSL goal scorer, Sibanda was pleased with his performance, saying it will urge him on to do better.
“It is my first hat-trick since I turned professional so I am really happy.
“It came from God and I am glad that a youngster (Mbonisi Ncube) came into the bench and scored, I think it sends a positive message to other young players out there,” he said, adding his side should improve going forward to ensure the emphatic win is not a once-off performance.
Despite winning, Bantu coach Joseph Sibindi said it’s still work in progress, adding he didn’t expect such a huge score line.
“I don’t think the absence of coaches affected them (Yadah) because even if I was absent I think my boys would have done well.
“We still have to improve going forward and bag the three points,” he said.
