The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga in Kariba
ZPC Kariba…………………………………….. (1) 1
Whawha FC……………………………………. 0
EXPERIENCED coach Rodwell Dhlakama ended his Castle Lager Premier Soccer League two-month hiatus in style when he immediately guided ZPC Kariba to what had become a rare victory at Nyamhunga Stadium yesterday.
A goal by Newman Sianchali on the stroke of half time ensured the home team collected maximum points.
It became their second win at home this season.
ZPC Kariba have played eight matches at their favourite hunting ground so far this term, losing three and drawing as many games.
Dhlakama replaced Godfrey Tamirepi last Wednesday and has been tasked to help the team avoid relegation.
He acknowledges that it will not be an easy task given that they only managed two wins in 13 matches before his arrival.
“It is always refreshing and exciting to start your new job with a win. It gives you and the team confidence going forward, and I am happy that we managed to win, though I feel we could have won by a wider margin had we converted chances that came our way.
“The focus is on surviving relegation,’’ said Dhlakama.
The scoreline did not match the hosts’ dominance and opportunities they created.
WhaWha gaffer Luke Petros Jukulile once again bemoaned loss of concentration by his charges.
“We played a very good team in which we tried our best only until that loss of concentration in the dying stages of the first half, but, overall, we had done well to contain them.
“Our gameplan was to hold them in the first half and be a bit offensive in the second half, but, unfortunately, we couldn’t break them, but I am happy with the performance of the team,” he said.
The Prisons outfit created just a single goal-scoring opportunity in the first half while the hosts had many chances.
Inside the opening 20 minutes, the hosts had created six clear-cut chances that went begging until Sianchali popped up on the stroke of half time to find what became the winner.
ZPC Kariba could have had an early lead as early as the fourth minute when Johannes Sibanda received a cross from Sianchali, which he did well to control, only to see his effort at goal going wide from close range.
As the hosts continued to press for an opener, former CAPS United forward Tinotenda Chiunye saw his long-range volley missing the target by a few inches on the quarter-hour mark.
It took the visitors almost 35 minutes to finally have a sniff at goal when Takudzwa Jukulile came to the end of Jayden Barake’s cross.
Jukulile first-time volley was, however, dealt with by goalkeeper Tapiwa Chilenga.
ZPC Kariba had their prayers finally answered by the football gods when Sibanda did well to beat his markers, cut the ball back to Sianchali, who calmly tucked in his effort.
Three minutes after the break, Sianchali had a chance to double his tally when Chiunye released him on the right flank, only for the veteran forward to fail to beat Terrence Chiku in goals for Whawha from a one-on-one situation.
WhaWha returned from the break a much improved side but failed to break down the hosts’ defence.
Teams:
ZPC Kariba:
- Chilenga, M Doro, B. Madzokere, P. Mazhawu, B. Chayambuka, C. Muleya, B. Juru, J Sibanda (V. Kawe 49 min) (S. Gorogodyo 74 min), M. Demera, T. Chiunye. N. Sianchali
Whawha:
Chiku, M Sibanda, D. Terrence, T. Magwaza, R. Horonga (D. Mapuwa 80 min), M. Chirwa, T. Jukulile, J Barake, N. Tshuma, T Chitora (C. Brown 80 min), R Huseni.
