The Sunday Mail
DENNIS DAUDA had debut made in hell for Yadah FC yesterday.
The former Caps United man was poor as the new boys succumbed to a ninth defeat of the season when they fell 0-2 to Shabanie Mine at Morris Depot in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match.
Dauda, who played as an attacking midfielder, was hauled off in the 76th minute just before the team crumbled thanks to a late brace by Shabanie Mine striker Wellington Taderera.
Taderera broke the deadlock on 82 minutes before completing his brace on the stroke of fulltime after capitalising on poor defending by the home side.
Yadah FC assistant coach Thomas Ruzive explained Dauda’s strange position.
“We used Dauda as an attacking midfielder because of his technique but unfortunately he did not play as well as we expected,” said Ruzive.
“It’s a very disappointing result especially if you cannot get a result at home. We played well in the first half but our defenders went to sleep in the dying stages. The result has left us in the red zone of the league and we are not happy with the position that we find ourselves going for the break. We need to add more players especially strikers because we have not been scoring.”
Shabanie coach Takesure Chiragwi promised more solid performances from the Chinda Boys.
In Zvishavane Norman Mapeza got one over his former assistant Tendai Chikuni as FC Platinum beat Chapungu 1-0 at Mandava.
Gift Mbweti’s 24th minute header was the winner.
Pure Platinum Play shot to third on the log with 29 points – two behind log-leaders Ngezi Platinum Stars who are away to Triangle today.
It was a welcome response from Mapeza’s charges following last weekend’s 1-2 reverse at Ngezi.
“We needed this win badly and now we are going for the break happy,” Mapeza said. “It was a good game, we played well in the first half but Chapungu came at us in the second half. I think we did well although my guys were a bit nervous following last weekend’s defeat at Ngezi.”
Chapungu, who were coming from a remarkable 2-0 win against Chicken Inn, had a penalty shout in the dying minutes but their calls were ignored by referee Jimmy Makwanda.
“I am disappointed with the officiating, it is important for the players to be protected by the referees but all the same I am happy for my boys,” said Chapungu coach Chikuni.
Harare City, who appointed former Caps United coach Mark Harrison as their technical director last week, were beaten 1-2 by 10-man How Mine at Luveve.
How Mine ‘keeper Munyaradzi Diya, who is having a stellar season with the gold miners, converted a penalty after 12 minutes before Martin Vengesayi equalised for City with a sharp shot in the box seven minutes from the breather.
Kuda Musharu found the winner for How Mine with a team goal in the 66th minute.
Some fine interplay between the Chikurupati players resulted in Toto Banda flicking the ball to Musharu, who finished with a simple header.
How Mine ended the game a man short after Marvelous Mukumba was shown a second yellow card eight minutes from full time.
Chikurupati are now sixth on the log with 28 points, while Harare City are still in the bottom half with 18 points from 17 games.
Earlier in the day, struggling Bantu Rovers and Bulawayo drew 0-0 at Luveve.
Bantu Rovers remain second from bottom with nine points, three ahead of bottom-placed Tsholotsho FC, who face Black Rhinos at Morris Depot this afternoon.
