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NewsDay

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Chapungu fly to safety

Sport
AIRFORCE of Zimbabwe side Chapungu ensured their safety in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League when they got the better of already relegated Bantu Rovers at Ascot Stadium yesterday.

AIRFORCE of Zimbabwe side Chapungu ensured their safety in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League when they got the better of already relegated Bantu Rovers at Ascot Stadium yesterday.

BY TERRY MADYAUTA Chapungu . . . . . . . (0) (2) Bantu Rovers . . . . (0)(0)

With the win, Chapungu leapt into the top eight with 43 points, eight points clear off the relegation zone.

They dictated the pace of the game in the first half, though their striker force could not crack the youthful Bantu defence.

Their pressure paid dividends when a neat interplay that involved Allen Tavariswa and Ricky Bota released pacey winger Blessing Sahondo, who fired a low shot past goal minder Notice Dube.

Osborne Mukuradare doubled the scores for the airmen in the 55th minute when he tapped in a curling cross from winger Ian Nyoni.

Sahondo proved to be a menace for Tshintsha Guluva and on one occasion he weaved freely past the visitors’ rearguard and he almost scored just after the half-hour mark, though his curling shot beat goal minder Dube, but Shadreck Nyahwa cleared the ball on the line.

Chapungu coach Tendai Chikuni was satisfied with his team’s performance.

“We missed a lot of chances in the first half but I am happy the boys played well in the second half,” he observed.

“We managed to get good goals after the break. Now it’s all about managing our team as we brace for the next assignments against Chicken Inn and FC Platinum considering that we have little training time until Saturday. These next games are not going to be easy for us, so we need to be very focused and ensure that we end this season on a high note though we are facing uphill tasks against teams in the title matrix,” Chikuni said.

Bantu Rovers technical manager Agent Sawu lamented defensive faults which the Chapungu strike force capitalised on.

“We are very worried when our team is disorganised in defence,” Sawu said.

“The boys lacked composure in our own half and as a result we conceded two easy goals. Our target is winning our last games. Though we have been relegated, it is an achievement that we gave more than 10 youngsters a platform to exhibit their talent. Our worry now is where these youngsters will be playing next season.”

Teams:

Chapungu: R Mazingi, P Marufu, R Bota, T Ndhlovu, B Mbavarira, C Kwaramba, I Nyoni (T Chitora 81), E Chitauro, A Tavarwisa, O Mukuradare (L Gwerima 68′), B Sahondo (D Ncube 82′)

Bantu Rovers: N Dube, F Sibanda, D Ndlovu, N Garayi (M Ncube 80′) T Khumbuyani, P Zivengwa, S Nyahwa, N Papias (B Ncube 80′), M Dube, M Chitambwe (R Masuku 59′)