The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda in Kariba
ZPC Kariba. . . . . . . . . . 1
Caps United . . . . . . . . 0
THE temperature at kick off was 35 degrees Celsius and Kariba went on to prove that it is too hot for Caps United who lost an adrenalin filled Castle Lager Premier Soccer League affair at Nyamhunga yesterday.
After only 15 minutes, referee Ruzive Ruzive had already flashed four yellow cards to Stephen Makatuka and Method Mwanjale of Caps United as well as Collen Muleya and Ghanaian central defendaer Stephen Appiah for the homeside.
In the 16th minute, Dominic Mukandi was stretchered off before being replaced by Hardlife Zvirekwi.
Two minutes later, David Temwanjira banged home a Tsepo Ranthokoane cut back.
It got worse for Caps United when goalie Prosper Chigumba’s hip injury forced him out in the 24th minute.
Chris Mverechena replaced him.
Makepekepe suffered another blow when exciting teenage winger Tinotenda Chiunye was injured and replaced by Muchelle Katsvairo in the 45th minute.
By the time Ruzive blew for halftime, Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe had made all three substitutions.
His team was trailing 0-1.
The second half began with some light showers as the weather took a drastic change while the ambulance drove away with Caps keeper Chigumba to a local hospital.
There was little action in the second stanza as Makepekepe sought a way back while the home side held on for a memorable victory.
ZPC Kariba coach Godfrey Tamirepi believes his side are now safe from relegation after yesterday’s victory took Kauya Katuruturu to 41 points.
“I think we can breath much easier now,” said Tamirepi.
Chitembwe was still to ascertain the gravity of Chigumba’s injury but reckoned his boys did well.
Makepekepe went into the match on the back of a defeat against Dynamos and Chitembwe thinks his team’s defeat “was neither here nor there.”
“Chigumba suffered a hip injury and he looked really terrible. As for the weather, again it’s neither here nor there because we were all playing in Zimbabwe,” said Chitembwe.
Caps United remain fifth with 44 points.
Teams:
ZPC Kariba: T. Mawaya, T. Ranthokoane, M. Kunyarimwe, S. Appiah, I. Nekati, T. Munyanduri, D. Chakupe (B. Zuberi 70’), C.Muleya, T. Nyamandwe (S.Makawa 92), D. Temwanjira, T. Chamboko (M. Demera 80’)
Caps United: P. Chigumba (C. Mverechena 24’) M. Ncube, K. Nyamupfukudza, S. Makatuka, M. Mwanjale, D. Mukandi (H. Zvirekwi 16’), C. Kamhapa, T. Chiunye (M. Katsvairo 45’), V. Musarurwa, J. Zhuwawu, A. Chidiebere
