The Sunday Mail
Munyaradzi Musiiwa
Chapungu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0 Highlanders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0Giants Highlanders were held to a goalless draw by struggling Chapungu in a lethargic Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Ascot Stadium yesterday.
Log leaders Highlanders displayed their most wasteful performance in the league so far and failed to score against the bottom side Chapungu, who are yet to win a game.
The visitors made their presence felt in the 28th minute when forward Rodrick Mutuma weaved past the Chapungu defence before unleashing a thunderbolt which was parried to safety by Talent Shumba in goals for the hosts.
Highlanders defence was almost caught out when Ngoni Murisa unleashed a shot after picking up a loose ball just outside the box, but his effort was cleared off the line by Tendai Ndlovu after an outdrawn Ariel Sibanda failed to intercept it.
Bosso created one of the best chances of the game when Mutuma flighted a cross into the box to find an unmarked Gabriel Nyoni, who fluffed it with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Second-half substitute Ralph Matema also tried his luck from range but that attempt went wide with Shumba at sixes and sevens.
Waru Waru could have snatched their first win in the 86th minute when veteran midfielder Philip Marufu charged towards goal and pulled the trigger from close range but could not get past Bosso goalie Sibanda.
Chapungu coach Tendai Chikuni was pleased to settle for a point.
“I am very happy with the result. Highlanders are the log leaders and we managed to hold them. It is a good thing to get a point against log leaders.
“We are working hard to rectify the mistakes we made in the previous games and we hope that we will continue getting points when playing at home,” he said.
His counterpart, Errol Akbay, was infuriated with the way his charges failed to get maximum points against the basement club in a match they dominated.
“I am not happy with the result. This is the worst display ever. We were wasteful in front of goal. We hope that we will improve in the next game,” he said.
