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Strikers missing in action

Sport
WEEK 16 of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League had the least number of goals after seven were scored with How Mine and FC Platinum the only winners and biggest movers on the log standings.

WEEK 16 of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League had the least number of goals after seven were scored with How Mine and FC Platinum the only winners and biggest movers on the log standings.

BY FORTUNE MBELE

It was the least tally of goals scored with FC Platinum beating Chapungu 2-0 at Mandava Stadium on Saturday courtesy of goals from Brian Muzondiwa and Allen Gahadzikwa, while Chikurupati’s Timothy January scored the solitary goal for the gold miners to move to third spot on the log standings.

Four goals were scored at LaFarge on Saturday where Flame Lily held Harare City 2-2.

A brace from Harare City’s James Jam and two goals from James Chivasa and Brighton Chandisaita of Flame Lily completed Saturday’s six goals before January scored the seventh against Buffaloes at Luveve Stadium on Sunday.

The weekend goals were a far cry from Week Seven’s 27 goals on the weekend when How Mine clobbered WhaWha 6-0 at Barbourfields Stadium when January scored four goals on May 2.

Week One produced 23 goals on a weekend when Triangle beat Hwange 5-2 at the Colliery, the second highest number of goals with Weeks 10 and 12 producing 20 goals each.

The leading scorer in the league, Chicken Inn’s Edmore Chirambadare with eight goals, touched down from South Africa straight to Luveve Stadium on Saturday and came in as a substitute in the second half, but his side settled for a goalless draw with Caps United.

Raphael Manuvire of ZPC Kariba was pulled out injured in another goalless draw against Tsholotsho FC at White City Stadium on Friday.

FC Platinum’s Walter Musona, with five goals to his name, is away on trials in Slovakia with team mate Wisdom Mutasa.

Former Triangle striker Richard Kawondera has just made a move to champions Dynamos and played in the goalless draw against Hwange at Rufaro Stadium while his former teammate at the Lowveld side Lameck Nhamo, also competing in the scorer’s chart, did not find his feet right and was pulled out due to injury in the goalless draw against Highlanders at Gibbo on Sunday.

FC Platinum’s Donald Ngoma is now in Tanzania where he has scored two goals for Young Africans since arriving in East Africa.

Last year’s Golden Boot award winner Kuda Musharu has only scored two goals in the league so far while Charles Sibanda, who was hospitalised after he was involved in a car accident and has been ruled out for some months, is yet to find the net for How Mine, where he moved from Highlanders.

Limited Chikafa, who was number three last year when he was at ZPC Kariba, has scored three this season for How Mine and on Sunday, he was not part of the team due to suspension.

Ronald Chitiyo, who grabbed a brace for Dynamos against Highlanders a fortnight ago, also did not play in the 0-0 draw against Hwange at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday due to injury. Rodreck Mutuma returned to Dynamos, but failed to score against the coalminers.

Goals also deserted Highlanders’ man-of-the-moment Knox Mutizwa against Triangle on Sunday. Fellow striker Thomas Chideu has also been away on trials and has reportedly impressed South African Premier Soccer League side Ajax Cape Town.

Evans Rusike of Hwange is also on trials with South Africa’s Maritzburg United.

Luke Masomere, How Mine head coach, yesterday said despite winning on Sunday he was not happy with how they fared against Buffaloes saying the dearth in goals at the weekend is characteristic of Zimbabwean football.

“We won yesterday (Sunday), but that does not have any bearing on the championship. We did not play well. We have been doing quite well in the last games that we have played,” he said.

“About goals not coming at the weekend, it is to do with most of us Zimbabwean coaches. The character of our game is that we are very organised when defending. We believe that the best way to attack is to defend.”

There was no movement in the bottom four with the new PSL sides Tsholotsho, Flame Lily, WhaWha and Dongo Sawmill likely to return to Division One if they don’t start winning games in the second half of the season.

Tsholotsho, on 15 points, played a goalless draw against ZPC Kariba on Friday, Flame Lily, on 13 points, drew 2-2 against Harare City.

WhaWha (13 points) and Dongo Sawmill (at the bottom with 11 points) drew 0-0 at Ascot Stadium on Saturday.

The PSL will take a break this weekend for the Young Warriors match against South Africa in the Under-23 Championships final qualifier, first leg at Rufaro Stadium.

Match Day 17

Saturday July 25: Flame Lily v Tsholotsho, ZPC Kariba v Triangle United, Chapungu v WhaWha, (1400hrs SS)

Sunday: Dongo Sawmill v Chicken Inn, Hwange FC v How Mine, Highlanders v Dynamos, (1500hrs SS), Buffaloes v FC Platinum, Caps United v Harare City