The Sunday Mail
Harare City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) (2)
ZPC Kariba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) (3)
“BRING on Dynamos.”
This was the bold declaration by ZPC Kariba coach Saul Chaminuka soon after the electricians dispatched a battling Harare City to assume pole position in an absorbing Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Rufaro yesterday.
A first half brace from veteran striker Limited Chikafa and a cool finish just after the restart by the productive Pride Tafirienyika saw ZPC Kariba overtake DeMbare on the log standings courtesy of a superior goal difference.
Harare City, who have now gone for four matches without a win conceding 13 goals in the process, replied through a blistering free kick by centreback Arnold Chiveya and a forceful strike by the inform Francesco Zekumbawire.
ZPC Kariba and Dynamos are now tied on 53 points although DeMbare can reclaim top spot if they beat or draw with Division One bound Bantu Rovers today.
The two teams then clash in what could turn out to be a championship decider in Harare next weekend.
And Chaminuka, who for long has been evasive on his real target, declared war on defending champions DeMbare soon after the final whistle.
“With two games to go and one of them against Dynamos, I can safely say now that I am aiming for the championship.
“My boys are just marvellous, they showed great character today, we just have to beat Dynamos in the next fixture and we are home and dry.
“We can play them anywhere but I would prefer a soft surface like Gwanzura, after all we have never lost in Highfield,” said Chaminuka, whose side played on Rufaro’s artificial turf for the first time this season.
Two-goal hero Chikafa was on cloud nine and believes his team can wrestle the title from DeMbare.
“As a veteran I had to come to the party, its good I scored the two goals that helped my team pick up vital points. The win motivates us ahead of the big clash against DeMbare,” he said.
Chikafa opened the scoring after 15 minutes when his free kick, struck from just outside the box, took a slight deflection and deceived City keeper Nomore John, thrown into the fray at the expense of the usual starter Maxwell Nyamupanedengu.
Nyamupanedengu paid the price for leaking five during the midweek loss to DeMbare.
City responded in almost similar style, but with a little more swagger as Chiveya’s powerful freekick nestled into the top left corner, beating a bemused Tonderayi Mateyaunga on 19 minutes.
Chikafa returned to haunt City just before the half time whistle, reacting perfectly to a Dennis Dauda long ball before lobbing an outdrawn John.
Tafirenyika got the insurance goal nine minutes after the restart when he coolly slotted the ball past a diving John.
He was set up nicely by Tawanda “Finger” Nyamandwe.
A minute later, the bustling Zekumbawire reduced the deficit when he muscled his way past the ZPC Kariba central defence before placing the ball beyond the reach of Mateyaunga.
Masimba Dinyero’s “Sunshine Boys” besieged the ZPC Kariba goal area in the dying stages, creating several chances in the last 10 minutes but the youthful Mateyaunga stood firm.
Zekumbawire hit the cross bar in the 82nd minute before Mateyaunga smothered Timire Mamvura’s grounder five minutes later.
Substitute Benson Maglasi had an opportunity to level matters a minute before full time but he shot wide after he was set up by the lively Talent Chawapiwa.
City coach Dinyero, whose bubble has burst in recent weeks, looked dejected after the match and admitted morale was at its lowest in his camp.
“Lack of concentration has been costing us of late but it is still game on. I will have to psyche the boys up in the last two matches and see what happens.”
Teams
Harare City: N. John, T. Mamvura, M. Nyenye Diro, A. Chaka (C. Dickson 60th), A. Chiveya, T. Ngulube, J. Jam, W. Manondo (A. Murimba 60th), O. Mukuradare (B. Maglasi 50th), T. Chawapiwa, F Zekuwambire
ZPC Kariba: T. Mateyaunga, D. Phiri, M. Makanje, E. Mwinga, T. Ranthokoane, O. Mwerahari (P. Chinugwa 85th), P. Tafirenyika, P. Muzondo, L. Chikafa (A. Nyamiwa 67th), D. Dauda, T Nyamandwe
