The Sunday Mail
Sports Reporters
Harare City 5-0 Bantu Rovers
BANTU ROVERS yesterday became the first team to be relegated from the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League this season after being thumped 5-0 by Harare City at Rufaro.
A brace from Martin Vengesayi and solitary strikes from Wilfred Muvirimi, Tinashe Balakasi and Edwin Madhanhanga carried the day for a Sunshine Boys outfit that has been operating in fits and starts this season.
It was Bantu Rovers’ 21st defeat of the season and their team manager Agent Sawu was quick to highlight that their mission is to groom players.
“We are a developmental team, we are worried about the future of these youngsters. We will see where these boys will be next year,” he said.
City coach Philani Ncube, who had promised the visitors a thrashing, was a relieved man.
“At least the pressure is off for the next 24 hours, we now have to focus on our next game against Chicken Inn on Thursday,” said Ncube.
Tsholotsho moved closer to the guillotine after falling 0-3 to Chapungu, who scored through Allan Tavarwisa, Blessing Sahondo and Patrick Khumbula, at Dulivhadzimo in Beitbridge.
Tsholotsho coach Darlington Dodo painted a grim picture of his team’s state of affairs.
“Do you think that after I left Bulawayo after 10 am to come to Beitbridge to play a game that kicks off at 3pm I can be expected to win? I don’t think my boys could have done better than they did today,” he said.
Chapungu coach Tendai Chikuni said his team struggled to find their range in the first half before getting it right in the second stanza.
“It doesn’t have to be pretty at this stage of the season, it’s all about grinding out results,” he said.
At the National Sports Stadium in Harare Yadah Stars and Black Rhinos played out a six-goal thriller with Brian Mapfumo the hero for Walter Magaya’s team, scoring an injury time equaliser.
But Yadah must be kicking themselves for letting go a two-goal first half lead.
Johannes Sibanda opened the scoring on 21 minutes before Moses Demera made it 2-0 on 36 minutes as the home side bossed proceedings.
However, Lot Chiwunga pulled Rhinos back into the game with a brace, his first coming on 40 minutes and the second 19 minutes later.
Martin Mine then shot Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa’s side into the lead on 83 minutes but Mapfumo had the last say.
Mtizwa was not happy with the way his team fell 0-2 behind in the first half as well as the way referee Edward Mucharambei handled the tie.
“It’s sad that after working so hard at training the match is decided by the referee,” said the Rhinos gaffer.
Yadah gaffer Thomas Ruzive accused Mtizwa of clutching at straws.
“The guy is making excuses because his team was so close to getting all the three points but could not see the game through.
“This is a game of football and such late equalisers are part of the game. On our part we are disappointed by our failure to protect our lead, we went to sleep and got punished,” he said.
