The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
Black Rhinos . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Yadah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
YADAH STARS are not keen on being involved in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League relegation battle and are playing every game like a cup final.
That is the gospel from their coach Thomas Ruzive, who yesterday watched with delight as his team snapped Black Rhinos’ 10-game unbeaten run at the National Sports Stadium. Arial Makopa’s 57th winner and Simba Sithole’s opener, that was cancelled by Black Rhinos’s mid-season signing Honey Chimutimunzveve, earned Yadah maximum points.
“We don’t want to be under pressure with relegation battles towards the end of the season, so these points are important,” said Ruzive.
“We have to get them now before it’s too late and the guys are responding well to this message. We have self-belief now after our game with FC Platinum which ended 1-1. After that game, I told the boys that they have what it takes to take on any team in the league and they are playing with that at the back of their minds.”
Rhinos coach Herbert Maruwa is hoping for a quick bounce back from his charges, who had last tasted defeat against FC Platinum on Workers Day.
“It’s part of the game, they did their homework…we have to go back to our winning ways. It’s not good to lose especially at this stage of the season, but it’s part of the game,” he said.
Black Rhinos started positively and could have led inside 10 minutes but Chimutimunzveve blazed over with the goal at his mercy. It was Yadah who took the lead against run of play through a Simba Sithole’s 16th minute strike. Sithole pounced on a long ball which Black Rhinos failed to clear. Rhinos continued to control the game, but Yadah remained a threat with counter attacks. But just before half-time, Chimutimunzveve headed in an equalizer from Brian Banda’s free-kick from the edge of the box on the right flank.
In the second half, Black Rhinos struggled to create any meaningful chances while Yadah kept probing and were rewarded when Arial Makopa decided the match with a header.
Teams
Black Rhinos: A Rayners, H Chimutimunzveve (E Chigiji 70 min), F Banda, A Mbara, S Jimu, D Mudadi, A Gahadzikwa (P Mukombwe 80th), T Jaravani, V Mhandu, W Taderera (C Chitsamba 65th), L Chiunga
Yadah FC: S Chimusoro, W Kalongonda, W Chakanyuka, A Makopa, B Madzokere, E Karembo, B Mapfumo, J Sibanda(L Murape 54th), M Musiyakuvi, L Mavunga (M Makopa 89th), S Sithole
