The Sunday Mail
Tenax…………………………………..(0) 2
Whawha…………………………….. (1) 2
Ray Bande in MUTARE
A DRAW was the fairest result for this otherwise drab Castle Lager Premier Soccer League battle of the wardens between Tenax and Whawha at Sakubva Stadium yesterday. The visitors were first off the blocks after taking the lead just two minutes into the match when Jayden Barake took advantage of a lapse by Tenax defenders and shoved the ball home from close range. The Midlands correctional services side held on to the lead in the first half even though they could have easily wrapped up the game before the break with a little more precision in front of goal.
After enjoying the lion’s share of possession, somehow Whawha strikers took turns to miss the target. Seven minutes into the second half, a Whawha defender clearly handled while dealing with Farai Mugumwa’s low cross and promising young referee Qedisani Dirwai, who was the centre referee, duly pointed to the spot.
Up stepped Panashe Mutasa, who made no mistake as he sent the Whawha goalkeeper the wrong way to level terms.
Five minutes later, reliable Tenax goal-getter Mugumwa propelled his team into the lead with a clinical finish when he got to the end of a quick counter-attack that left him with only the goalkeeper to beat.
In the 78th minute, complacency got the better of the home team when their defenders literally watched Barake run with the ball for more than four yards before releasing a hard-and-low shot that gave Tenax goalkeeper Godfrey Chisango no chance.
Whawha coach Luke Jukulile Petros acknowledged that they could have easily won the match had they used scoring opportunities created in the first half.
“I think we played well and it is encouraging that we managed to get a point away from home.
“We are now focusing on the next encounter against Bulawayo City with a little more confidence.
“We could have won this match especially in the first half. Unfortunately, we failed to convert some clear-cut scoring chances that we created. That is part of the game of football; we just have to move on,” he said.
Tenax fitness trainer Promise Mandidzidze also bemoaned wasted opportunities.
“It is sad that this match had to end in stalemate. This is one match we must have won. If we really cannot pick maximum points from such matches at home, where shall we expect to do so?
“At the end of the day, we just have to accept the result and move on.
“We now are paying more attention to the match against Chicken Inn, which is our next league encounter,” he said.
