The Sunday Mail
Ray Bande in Mutare
Black Rhinos………………(0) 1
Triangle United…………..(1) 2
COACH Jairos Tapera’s rebuilding mission continues to bear fruit after Triangle United’s spirited performance earned them a well-deserved victory over Black Rhinos at Sakubva yesterday.
Tapera was left with only three regular players when the top-flight league resumed following a lengthy Covid-19 induced lay-off.
To his credit, the team has collected four out of a possible six from the two matches he has been in charge after settling for a stalemate against Harare City in the previous round of league matches.
In yesterday’s match, the first half was largely a balanced affair with both sides exchanging raids.
The visitors were the first off the blocks with some nerve-wrecking long range shots from Walter Sande and Kelvin Gwao only missing the target by inches in the first five minutes of the match. Exciting Eli Iilunga could have propelled Black Rhinos into the lead in the 12th minute when he dribbled past Sande but his hard and low shot was deflected for a corner kick by defender Collen Kwaramba.
Triangle were rewarded for their efforts in the 39th minute when diminutive roving winger Gerald Bhero got to the end of a beautiful Donald Ngoma pass and fired home a blistering shot that gave jittery Rhinos goalkeeper Stanely Chakwana no chance.
The soldiers restored parity in the 67th minute when Triangle goalkeeper Taurai Chitsumba literally hurled the ball into his own net while struggling to deal with a weak effort from Denzel Mutudza.
However, Triangle were back in the lead in the 78th minute when well-positioned second-half substitute Simbarashe Verenga scored a beauty after receiving a pass from Misheck Ngwenya and placed the ball in the left corner from the edge of the box.
Rhinos will surely count themselves unlucky not to have snatched even a point from this encounter after their strikers, on several occasions, harassed the Triangle rearguard but lacked precision.
The return of 34-year old Lot Chiwunga from injury after he last kicked the ball in a competitive match in 2018 also breathed life into the Rhinos attack but somehow the Harare army side lacked the cutting edge in front of goal.
Rhinos coach Hebert Maruwa felt they gave away the goals they conceded.
“We simply gave them those two goals. We were a solid team in the first half but somehow we lost concentration when we conceded those goals. It’s part of the game of football.
“We just have to pick ourselves up and make sure we play a better game next weekend,’’ Maruwa said.
Tapera was naturally happy with the result.
“When we started the game was a bit physical but we managed to adapt.
“It is something good if we can pick points from highly rated teams given the background that we are assembling a new team.
“I only had three weeks to assemble this team and I am happy that the boys are gelling and responding well. We hope to carry on collecting points and end the season on a respectable position,” said Tapera.
Teams:
Black Rhinos:
Stanley Chakwana; Blessed Mbavarira; College Kwaramba; Gareth Madhake; Peace Makaha; Ashward Phiri; Jordan Nyabinde; Allen Gahadzikwa (Ngandu Mangala, 48th minute); Denzel Mutudza; Eli Lunga (Lot Chiwunga 50th minute); Vincent Mhanhu:
Triangle United:
Taurai Chitsumba; Jameson Mukombwe; Daniel Magaiza; Kelvin Gwao; Arnold Chivheya; Walter Sande; Misheck Ngwenya; Dzingai Chirambamurivo (Dzingai Chrambamurivo, 92nd minute); Donald Ngoma; Russell Madamombe (Simbarashe Verenga, 54th minute); Gerald Bhero (McDonald Mukunga 90th minute)
Results:
ZPC Kariba 1 – FC Platinum 1
Bulawayo Chiefs 0 – 0 Tenax
Harare City 3 – 1 Cranborne Bullets
Ngezi Platinum Stars 1 – 1 Yadah
Black Rhinos 1 – 2 Triangle 2
