The Sunday Mail
Mehluli Sibanda in BULAWAYO
Bulawayo City …………….. (0) 3
ZPC Kariba ………………… 0
BULAWAYO City put up a brilliant second-half display to bag their second win of the season in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League when they hammered 10-man ZPC Kariba at Barbourfields yesterday.
The last and only win for Amakhosi came on February 27 when they shocked Highlanders 1-0 at the same venue.
Yesterday’s win saw City move to 10 points and lifted them off the bottom of the table as they leapfrogged WhaWha, who drew 1-1 with Harare City.
WhaWha, with eight points now, anchor the standings.
ZPC Kariba finished the game one-man short after Parkington Mazhawu was sent off by referee Happy Mabhena for persistently protesting a penalty decision.
Roddy Sibanda – on loan from Highlanders, and a first-half substitute – scored from the penalty spot before he provided an assist for Genius Mutungamiri.
This was after Melikhaya Ncube had found the opener for the home team.
Farai Tawachera, who succeeded Philani “Beefy” Ncube, has now collected four points from his first two assignments after he drew 1-1 with Dynamos away in Harare in his first match in charge.
“Our entries into the opponents’ half were a bit fewer so we just worked on that,’’ Tawachera said.
Rodwell Dhlakama, the ZPC Kariba coach, who, just like Tawachera was in charge for a second game, felt there were too many negatives that need to be sorted out in his camp.
ZPC Kariba are languishing in the relegation zone with 13 points collected from three wins and four draws.
“First and foremost, we didn’t come to the party, especially in the first half. We lost possession in our defensive third. We thought maybe going into the second half we were going to improve, but it was the same old song; we did not pick ourselves up,’’ Dhlakama said.
City dominated from the start but did not translate that dominance into goals.
It was in the second half that they came alive.
Ncube headed in a perfect cross into the box from a free-kick in the 53rd minute before Sibanda netted from the spot after Nqobile Ndlovu was brought down.
Sibanda, booked for taking off his shirt in celebration, turned provider when his perfect pass found Mutungamiri, who sealed the win in the 69th minute.
