The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
Harare City…………………………………… 0
Yadah…………………………………………….2
AFTER outsmarting Harare City at Rufaro yesterday, Yadah coach Genesis Mangombe has boldly declared a win in their next fixture against Triangle will save the Miracle Boys from Castle Lager Premiers Soccer League relegation. A Jonathan Chitereki beautiful free-kick in the second minute and a Leeroy Mavunga header after 11 minutes gave Yadah a big lift in their fight to remain in the league.
Yadah are unbeaten in four matches, edging Chapungu and Black Rhinos by identical 1-0 margins, before a 2-2 stalemate against CAPS United, which preceded yesterday’s win.
They moved one position up to 16th with 35 points, the same with Herentals who play Hwange (17th place) at the Colliery today.
TelOne, who are away to basement side Mushowani (30 points), occupy 14th place with 36 points. This scenario is boosting Mangombe’s confidence of remaining in the league.
“I am happy the guys are on the right track, they have found form at the right time. If we can win the next assignment we can survive relegation,” he said. “The guys are confident that winning isn’t that difficult on a good day.
“If we play well, listen to instructions and concentrate in all aspects of the game, we are bound to win the game.
“ln terms of executing our game plan, I think we succeeded. “Facing Harare City, with their quality players, we were expecting a tough match. “I highlighted to my boys that we were going for a crucial encounter, one of the most difficult games of the season,’’ Mangombe said.
Harare City coach Lloyd Chitembwe was not pleased with his side’s display, but nullified fears of relegation despite his team sitting on 37 points. Dynamos and Ngezi are their last two fixtures. “Naturally it’s disappointing to lose, but I am equally disappointed with the performance. I thought our big players did not perform today. I thought our concentration levels were poor today.
“It’s down to the attitude, it was not on. We didn’t show the kind of hunger and desire that our opponents had. I am very happy with the points we picked along the way, those three points were key. lmagine if we had not picked those three points. Probably we would be sitting on the bottom of the log, every point at this stage is very important,” said Chitembwe.
He remains confident of survival.
“I am very optimistic, I don’t look at the negatives because I can only improve when I look at the positives.”
City failed to impose themselves as the home side while Yadah were smart and clinical upfront on their two early chances.
Chitewembwe’s men enjoyed good spells in patches, but failed to make it count as they mainly struggled to find a way through a resolute Yadah defence led by skipper Sydney Linyama.
