WHAWHA . . . . . . . (1) 1 CAPS UNITED . . . (2) 2 CAPS UNITED got off to a winning start in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign with a hard-fought victory over a determined Whawha at Ascot Stadium yesterday.
BY MUKUDZEI CHINGWERE
The visitors came from behind with a first half brace from Roderick Mutuma that outweighed a solitary strike from the penalty spot by Oscar Lungu.
The Green Machine came into the match aiming at nothing short of a victory given that their arch rivals Dynamos had a perfect start on Saturday.
The league debutants were intent on making the mark on their maiden top-flight dance and dominated possession for long durations of the match.
Their coach Lloyd Mutasa was however, affected by false preparations of the match with three players he expected to field yesterday having not completed their registration in time.
Winning coach Mark Harrison was delighted that his charges managed to get maximum points but conceded that the opponent played good football.
“It was a tough game and I expected it, it is the trend all over the world that league debutants want to make a mark in their first match.
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“To be fair the opponent played some good football and they were doing very well,” he continued. “We can challenge, but I cannot promise the title, this season we are still building,” said Harrison.
Losing mentor Mutasa was not happy with the outcome of the match lamenting the absence of some his key men. He also demanded more from his charges.
“As a coach you want to come out with a result especially at home. The boys are not yet at the level we want them to be. We prepared for the game with some players in mind who were not eligible to play because of some administration issues so that affected our rhythm. We were told we cannot field them at the last minute,” said Mutasa.
Goalkeeper Philip Nhete, veteran former Lancashire Steel striker Malvern Nyakabangwe and Gift Kwaramba are the players Mutasa hoped to field yesterday.
The hosts started the match on the offensive with Gift Saunyama tasting Caps number one Victor Twaliki with a powerful shot that he pushed wide for a corner kick.
At the other side of the field, Mutuma blasted a glorious chance over the bar. After ten minutes of action, Takudzwa Mahori’s effort outside the box crashed against the woodwork.
But it was the league debutants who took the lead when Lungu converted a spotkick after 13 minutes of action.
George Nyirenda fouled Takudzwa Jukulile inside the box and referee Mlindeli Ndebele deservedly awarded Chekerapasi a penalty kick.
Mutuma leveled the scoreboard five minutes before the breather when he headed in from Hardlife Zvirekwi’s cross.
On the stroke of half time, Mutuma returned to haunt the prison wardens again when he fired home a powerful shot on the bottom left corner to give the Green Machine the lead going into the breather. Five minutes after the break, an unmarked Mahori could have added the third, but missed the target with the net at his mercy.
Twelve minutes later, Albert Mateo, Whawha’s top goal scorer in Division One headed wide with Twaliki exposed.
Teams WhaWha: Sibanda P, Useni R, Madamombe V, Kanono J, Machazani M, Genti L, Lungu O (Zimora S 72), Jukulile T (Muponda T 63), Saunyama G (Mageja M 46) , Mateo A, Bude M Caps United: Twaliki V, Zvirekwi H, Mukandi D, Makatuka S, Munzambwa C, Mangani G (Fiyado L 70), Muchenje M, Nyirenda G, Mahori T (Muskwe T 86), Mutuma R, Phiri G (Machisi C 68)
