Caps draw another blank

By The Southern Eye | Jun. 14, 2021

CAPS United wasted a chance to close the gap on Group 1 leaders Dynamos after they were held to yet another draw by ZPC Kariba in this Chibuku Super Cup match at the National Sports Stadium in Harare yesterday.

BY HENRY MHARA

ZPC KARIBA . . . . 0

CAPS UNITED . . . 0

This was their fourth draw in five matches, with this result keeping the group wide open.

United moved to seven points, four behind Dynamos, while ZPC Kariba are now on six points, at par with Harare City. Yadah are not far behind as they have five points and Herentals anchor the group with two points from a possible 15.

Yesterday’s game completed the first round of pool matches in the group, with the teams set to meet again in the second round.

However, in a statement yesterday, the Sports and Recreation Commission suspended all sporting activities, which means the games will not go ahead next week as scheduled.

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PSL had been given a waiver to start the league under strict COVID-19 protocols. The league failed to take off last year because of the pandemic.

They were using the Chibuku Super Cup prepare for the resumption of the league which was expected to kick-off next month.

The revamped Chibuku Super Cup knock-out competition reached the halfway stage yesterday as Caps United versus ZPC Kariba’s Group 1 match concluded the first round matches.

Two top teams from the four groups will qualify to the quarterfinals of the competition.

Caps United had an opportunity yesterday to position themselves well for a slot in the group, but the players wasted the numerous chances that came their way.

Tinashe Balakasi was presented with the best opportunity to put United ahead in the first half when he went eyeball to eyeball with Kariba goalkeeper Tapiwa Chilenga, but blazed his effort.

Skipper Ronald Chitiyo also had a good first half chance, but could not convert.

ZPC Kariba looked out of sorts in the first half as they allowed Caps United to the dictate pace, but had their moments too which they also failed to take.

Ishmael Wadi had the best chance of the second half for Caps United when he was picked by an exquisite Blessing Sarupinda’s through pass to run clear. The inform striker rounded off Chilenga, but pushed the ball too far and couldn’t turn it into an empty net.

Caps United coach Darlington Dodo rued his team’s missed chances.

“We were not clinical, but sometimes if you want to be champions even if you are not playing well you need to grind a result. We got clear cut chances which we were supposed to convert. That was probably the turning point of the game. It’s unfortunate that we could miss from one or two metres from the goal line. We need to do more offensively,” Dodo said.

ZPC Kariba could have grabbed the win late in the match when Johannes Sibanda found himself unmarked on the edge of the box, but instead of going for goal, he squared the ball which found no takers.

ZPC Kariba coach Godfrey Tamirepi admitted his side got away with it.

“We had a slow start to the game, we gave them too much space unfortunately they missed their clear cut chances. But as the game progressed they seemed to be fading off. Came second half we came in a bit better and we managed to create a few chances on the breaks.

Unfortunately our decision-making was not right and the final pass lacked,” Tamirepi said.

Teams:

ZPC Kariba: T Chilenga, B Mutukure, B Madzokere, K Nyamupfukudza (Moses Demera, 50’), S Makawa (L Gwerina, 70’), B Matsa, J Sibanda, M Mekiwa, V Kawe, C Muleya

Caps United: T Mateyaunga, C Mavhurume, M Dironyenye, T Tafa, B Mpofu, (M Kunyarimwe,41), B Sarupinda, R Chitiyo (J Gwara, 83’), R Hachiro, I Wadi, I Nyoni (J Tulani 88’), T Balakasi, (L Mavhunga, 46’)