FORMER Warriors striker Wilfred Mugeyi got off to the best possible start as caretaker coach of South African Premier Soccer League side AmaZulu when they came from two goals down to win 3-2 against Bloemfontein Celtic in the Telkom Knockout on Saturday.
ZIMBABWEANS ABROAD WITH WELLINGTON TONI
Mugeyi was handed the reins last Friday after coach Craig Roslee was attacked by disgruntled fans of the Durban-based side at training. AmaZulu are rock bottom in the Premiership and are yet to win in seven matches.
Celtic stormed to a two-goal lead courtesy of strikes from Dumisani Zuma and Vuyani Ntanga, but Marc van Heerden and Kulegani Madondo responded for Usuthu before Bornwell Mwape netted the winner in extra time.
“It looks like I get goals every time I’m in charge. The last time [last season] against Golden Arrows we scored three and we have never scored three goals at home, so I think I have a good luck I guess,” Mugeyi told Kick Off.
“The boys showed good character, and coming back from 2-0 down and winning it 3-2, that was fantastic. I will sleep peaceful at night and as I said, it was a good victory for the team and everyone associated with AmaZulu. I think we needed this victory at all costs, just to give the boys the confidence especially going to our next league match Mpumalanga Black Aces.”
Carlington Nyadombo played for the Warriors, but skipper Tapuwa Kapini was benched and Mugeyi explained his decision.
“I just thought I needed to give Aubrey a chance and Kapini, I could see his level of confidence was a bit down. Also to protect him from what happened [against Bidvest Wits] and that was a decision I took to take the pressure off of him,” said the Silver Fox.
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While AmaZulu were enjoying the fruits of their labour, Black Aces saw dust after they were hammered 3-0 by Ajax Cape Town in the Telkom Knockout first round.
Energy Murambadoro was in goal for Aces, Tinashe Nengomasha started while Tendai Ndoro came in in 67th minute to no avail. Milton Ncube is still awaiting his debut at Ajax.
Cuthberth Malajila played the entire match for Mamelodi Sundowns as they beat University of Pretoria 2-1 after extra time.
There was no place for Kuda Mahachi and Esrom Nyandoro, but Washington Arubi started in goal for AmaTuks together with Patson Jaure while Denver Mukamba came in in the 102nd minute of extra time.
Patrick Kaunda played 45 minutes for Platinum Stars as they edged Chippa United 1-0 while SuperSport United were without George Chigova in their 1-0 victory over Free State Stars.
Kaizer Chiefs, unbeaten in 11 matches so far this season in league and cup matches, saw off Maritzburg United 1-0, who had Khumbulani Banda starting while Terrence Mandaza played only 10 minutes.
Willard Katsande played the entire match for Chiefs while Nkhatha lasted 84 minutes. Chiefs, again, did not field Ovidy Karuru and coach Stuart Baxter had explained why the Warriors international is yet to play.
“He is handling it [his wait] well,” Baxter explained to Kick Off, before sending a warning to the 25-year-old.
“It would be strange if he was making a noise because he has just arrived and has played no games. He is at a team that has just won the first 11 games.
“He has arrived and really the fact that he is not getting any game-time at the moment as a professional he must understand.
“I think he also knows that he is learning the way we play, so at the moment he has made no noise whatsoever, but I am careful to always make sure that the players understand how I feel.
“I feel that he is making progress, but at the moment he has a lot of players in front of him that have been here a lot longer and he is going to need more meat on the bone before he can dislodge them.”
In Europe, Costa Nhamoinesu’s Sparta Prague moved into third place in the Czech top-flight league after defeating Slovan Liberec 1-0 with the Zimbabwe international playing the entire match. Sparta are now on 22 points having won seven drawn two and lost once in 10 matches.
In Denmark, Quincy Antipas suffered his worst nightmare when Hobro where humiliated 1-5 at home by leaders Midtjylland. Antipas played 85 minutes of the match.
Silas Songani, formerly of Harare City, played 19 minutes in Sonderjyske’s 1-1 draw again Vestsjaelland.
In the Botswana beMobile, Rahman Gumbo’s Gaborone United slumped to a shock 1-0 loss at home to Orapa United while there is still no stopping Madinda Ndlovu’s Township Rollers as they thumped Letlapeng 4-0 at the weekend.
Rollers, the defending champions are now third on 18 points as they are unbeaten in eight matches (five draws and three draws), two points behind leaders BMC.
