Dynamos coach Lloyd Mutasa

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
ONLY the top three teams on the Castle Lager Premiership table FC Platinum, Caps United and Highlanders are guaranteed of topflight football next season, going into Week 24 fixtures today and tomorrow.

FC Platinum on 47 points, Caps United (46) and Highlanders (41) have gone past the magic number 40, which guarantees safety.

Although it may seem unthinkable that former champions Dynamos can actually face relegation, mathematically DeMbare are not safe on 35 points from 23 games.

With seven matches to go, Dynamos need to up their game to secure enough points to surpass the 40-point mark. Their form has not been consistent with their status and they need to start winning from this afternoon’s clash against second from bottom side Tsholotsho at Rufaro Stadium.

Tsholotsho presently sit on 19 points and can end the season on 40 points in the event that they win their remaining seven matches.

Dynamos are under pressure to perform following a 1-2 loss to Highlanders in their previous league encounter at Barbourfields Stadium two weeks ago.

DeMbare also suffered a morale-shattering loss to How Mine in the Chibuku Super Cup at Rufaro Stadium and will be under pressure to end the turmoil in their camp.

On the other hand, Tsholotsho ejected Caps United from the Chibuku Super Cup in Harare at the weekend and go into today’s tie with their tails wagging. Coach Lizwe Sweswe believes the pressure Dynamos are under could be good for his relegation battling side.

“What they’re going through may be good for us because they’re desperate for a win and may overdo things resulting in them making some mistakes. For us, it’s about maintaining consistency and the players now understand that they’re the main actors in this survival battle. We’re going to Rufaro with victory on our minds,” said Sweswe.

Although Sweswe is confident they’ll survive the chop, their remaining fixtures, starting with today’s game, are not easy games.

After today’s trip to Harare, Tsholotsho will host Harare City before travelling to Ngezi Platinum Stars. They then face Chapungu, Highlanders and Bulawayo City in Bulawayo, and end their season’s campaign in Zvishavane against FC Platinum.

“It’s tricky but possible. We have to show character and prove that we deserve to be in the elite league,” Sweswe said.

Mutare City, who are just a point above Tsholotsho on 20 points, also believe they can escape the chop.

Mutare City could end the season on 41 points if they win their remaining games, but just like Tsholotsho, they have to spring shockers along the way.

They are left with four away games to Chicken Inn, How Mine, Dynamos and Ngezi Platinum, as well as home ties against ZPC Kariba, Border Strikers and Harare City.

Tomorrow, Mutare City face champions Chicken Inn at White City Stadium, an encounter they’re unlikely to win. Chicken Inn beat Mutare City 3-1 in the first leg and a victory for the champions will go a long way in aiding Tsholotsho’s cause.

“We won’t be relegated. The bottom two teams will go,” said a confident Mutare City coach Taku Shariwa.

Bottom of the table Border Strikers will need a miracle to escape relegation. With just 13 points, Strikers are unlikely to collect 21 points from their remaining seven matches in which they will face FC Platinum, Hwange, Caps United, Mutare City, Triangle United, Chicken Inn and ZPC Kariba.

Their relegation fate may have already been sealed, as early their next three games are tough assignments against FC Platinum, Hwange and Caps United.

@ZililoR

ICC chief executive David Richardson has sympathised with Pakistan’s ongoing struggle to bring international cricket back to the country.

He was in Lahore yesterday to present Misbah-ul-Haq with the Test mace for Pakistan being ranked the number one team in the world.

Barring one series, Pakistan have not been able to host Full Members at home since the attack on a touring Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.

Zimbabwe had visited in 2015 for a limited-overs series, but during the second ODI on May 29, there had been a “suicide attack” on the outer edge of the three tiers of security that was in place. Zimbabwe left the country only after completing the tour though.

“The fact is that ICC is keen for everybody to play international cricket, including Pakistan,” Richardson said.

“The more teams we can have the better. However, circumstances around the world really have gotten quite difficult, from a security point of view and Pakistan has probably been the hardest hit than any other country.

“The ICC members have always tried to support Pakistan by making sure that they are willing to play Pakistan in the UAE and elsewhere to keep cricket going at least internationally even though it’s not in Pakistan.”

On a personal level, Richardson felt the measures the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the government have put in place made it safe for teams to come and play.

“It’s actually quite easy for you to convince me that international cricket returns to Pakistan, but unfortunately it’s not me or the ICC that needs to be convinced,” Richardson said.

“It’s the security experts, it’s the security consultants who are advising the players who are advising the teams and that’s really out of our control.

“I know that the Pakistan government and the PCB are doing whatever they can to try and persuade the people and make security situation better in Pakistan.

“Pretty soon we’ll get to a situation where teams are willing to play international cricket in Pakistan.’’

The PCB relies heavily on the government to arrange security for the visiting teams, but it has bought four bulletproof buses as part of the efforts to provide the “best possible” protection for players visiting the country.

In this seven-year isolation, the PCB has suffered financially, having to arrange matches in the UAE and missing out on bilateral series against India.

This prompted PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan to suggest the board should receive a “higher percentage of the income” from matches against India at ICC events. Richardson confirmed the ICC received the application and that it would be up for discussion in an upcoming meeting.

“We take every application seriously on those lines,” he said. “It came late in the day [during ICC annual conference in July] but we will discuss it in the financial committee meeting next month in October and then in the board.

“ICC members are actually renewing the whole financial model of international cricket at the moment and certainly the PCB’s request will be considered.” — ESPNCricinfo

Allen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
LADUMA have been awarded the abandoned Bulawayo Amateur Football Association (BAFA) Townshend and Butcher Cup semi-final following chaotic scenes that enveloped their semi-final clash with Laduma last Sunday.

The match was called off in the 76th minute when the referee red carded Laduma’s Dominic Nyika for dissent after he had been brought down inside the Madamara box.

The referee first awarded Nyika a free kick on the edge of the box before showing him a straight red after a heated exchange.

Laduma players protested and the referee changed his mind and pointed to the spot, triggering chaotic scenes as both sets of players pushed and shoved each other.

The referee then called off the match as he had totally lost control of proceedings. Laduma will therefore battle it out for the title against Rebels FC on October 2 at the Barbourfields Stadium outside grounds.

“BAFA met on Monday to deliberate on the semi-final clash between Madamara and Laduma.

“Guided by the rules of the association, the referees’ reports and the Townshend and Butcher tournament, we decided that Laduma FC should qualify for the final,” said BAFA chairman Chris Mutungwazi.

According to the tournament rules, unless caused by force majeure (unavoidable accident), abandoned matches shall be deemed as won by the team not causing the abandonment of the game.

@khumzallen

Sports and Recreation Commission acting director general Joseph Muchechetere

Sports Reporter
THE joint Sports Commission, Zifa and Women Football national stakeholders meeting to address various issues affecting women football that had been pencilled in for the National Sports Stadium yesterday has been moved to September 29.

In a statement released by Sports Commission’s acting director-general, Joseph Muchechetere late yesterday, the indaba had been shelved to allow stakeholders from outside Harare to attend.

“It was the stakeholders who felt that there was need to postpone the meeting in order to allow the other stakeholders from outside of Harare to also attend the meeting and even those from NAPH, NASH, Tertiary institutions and other institutions.

“The purpose of the meeting was for the SRC and Zifa to gain an appreciation of the challenges that are currently bedeviling women’s football with a view to resolving them in an amicable manner.

“The challenges that are currently affecting women’s football cannot be left unattended to, and as the SRC we had decided to meet with all the stakeholders involved with women’s football so that together we may come up with a lasting solution,” said Muchechetere.

In September last year, the SRC Board commissioned a Committee of Inquiry into the state and administration of football that was chaired by Commissioner Obadiah Moyo and some of the observations made concerning Women football include:

-That women’s football operated without a constitution.
-It was observed that there was no proper league structure to run women’s football.
-There was no proper support system from Zifa to the women football structure.
-That there was too much inter and intra fighting among the women football stakeholders which stifled the growth and development of the game.

Muchechetere said it is against those observations that the Sports Commission and Zifa decided to convene the meeting to map the way forward.

“The SRC also needs to confirm that the current Zifa board led by Phillip Chiyangwa inherited the situation which is currently obtaining in women football hence our efforts to work together in order to resolve it.

“The stakeholders should be bear in mind that this meeting is not meant to fault find, accuse each other or to denigrate one another, rather it is meant to build the future of women’s football hence the need for positive and constructive engagement,” said Muchechetere.

Currently women football is being run by an interim committee chaired by Elizabeth Langa.

Lloyd Chitembwe

Grace Chingoma in Kariba
ZPC Kariba 0-0 Caps United

CAPS United coach Lloyd Chitembwe was left satisfied after his team picked a point in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Nyamhunga yesterday against ZPC Kariba.

On a day that leaders FC Platinum were also held away in Dulibadzimu by Border Strikers, Makepekepe who had been rocked by in-house problems could only manage a draw as they failed to ccapitalise on the two points that the log leaders dropped in Beitbridge.

But Chitembwe said he will still grab the point with both hands and will not look at it as a lost opportunity to reclaim top spot.

“The most important thing is picking up points and I am satisfied with the performance of the team and their response in this match after the weekend match.This is football and you cannot win all the matches.

“It is not a chance lost that’s what football is all about. Actually we deserve credit for the manner we have managed to reduce the gap.  We were trailing them by seven points at one time but we have managed to reduce that’’, said Chitembwe.

The former midfielder said the race is still on and the team which will avoid any slip ups will go home smiling at the end of the season.

“I think like I have always said the season is still on but any team that slips up will rue the opportunity but for us the most important thing is the point we picked here,’’ said Chitembwe.

The two teams failed to separate each other for the second time after they drew 2-2 in Harare in the reverse tie but yesterday ZPC Kariba coach Sunday Chidzambwa felt hard done by the missed chance by his winger Talent Chawapiwa four minutes before the match.

Warriors trialist Chawapiwa found himself with a lot of space on the left after receiving a fine delivery but somehow hurried his effort.

“I think it was a balanced match. We did not create many chances but sometimes in football you should put away that half chance that you get and Talent should have buried that one.

“But a draw against the team which is second on the log I think it’s not a bad result. We played very well in Harare and created a lot of chances unlike today” said Chidzambwa.

“Chidzanbwa was also full of praises for goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya who stood in for number one Tendai Hove.

“My goalkeeper is as good as his captain and he does well whenever he is called up for duty. Mawaya is reliable whenever he is called for duty despite him not getting enough game time.’’

Mawaya who is second in charge did well to thwart Leonard Tsipa several times in a game that saw Chidzambwa deploying five defenders.

Exciting winger Chawapiwa was a handful for the visitors but the hosts lacked the final touch especially in the dying minutes when the former had a good chance which was however dealt with by the Caps United defenders.

Caps United had earlier on absorbed the pressure but regrouped after the breather and Tsipa who was making his return after being rested  in the Chibuku Super Cup defeat to Tsholotsho wasted a good chance to score.

TEAMS

ZPC Kariba: T. Mawaya, T. Sweswe (L. Zvasiya 65th min), S. Appiah, B. Mutukure, M. Kumyarimwe, T. Munyanduri, T. Mamvura, G. Mangani (L, Chikafa 78th min), T. Chawapiwa, T. Nyamandwe (L. Fiyado 65th min).

Caps United: J. Muchambo, H. Zvirekwi, R. Pfumbidzai, S. Makatuka, D. Dauda, D. Chafa, P. Bhamusi, J. Ngodzo, L. Tsipa, D. Chungwa (A. Amidu 71st min), S. Nhivi.

Tonderai Ndiraya

Sports Reporter
Ngezi Platinum 2 – 0 Chapungu

REIGNING Northern Region Division One Soccer Star of the Year Donald Teguru scored for the third time in a row as his side Ngezi Platinum saw off Chapungu in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Baobab yesterday.

The dreadlocked striker scored in the 28th minute and turned provider in the 91st minute when he fed James Marufu to seal victory for the Ngezi-based platinum miners.

Teguru is in fine form and has managed to do well in the top-flight after his side got promoted last season.

Ngezi Platinum Stars coach Tonderai Ndiraya said he was happy with the good outing as they desperately needed the win at home.

“Playing at home is not always easy as we need points more, we are happy that we managed to win the match.

“The boys played as a unit and we hope this is going to motivate them to work even harder. We need a strong finish in the race and performances like these are good for the team.

“We are now shifting our focus to prepare for the Highlanders game set for the weekend. We will continue to work hard and the boys are now confident enough,” said Ndiraya.

Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino gave credit to the home side’s first half performance in which he believes they were better than his side.

“We lost but it was a good game they got their advantage in the first half where they played well and after the breather we were all over them.

“They utilised their second chance in the second half to beat us but our finishing needs to be worked on before we host Mutare City at Ascot.

“We will try hard to do well in our next assignment,” said Nyikadzino.

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
SEVENTEEN teams consisting of 13 men’s and four women’s sides have registered for the Matabeleland Rugby Football Board (MRFB) Sevens tournament aimed at re-igniting an interest in the game at Hartsfield Ground tomorrow.

Rugby, once a crowd puller in Bulawayo, has virtually collapsed in the city and the newly elected board believes the Sevens format can get the clubs running.

The epic Old Miltonians and Western Panthers clash kickstarts the men’s event.

OMs, Panthers, Warriors, Lupane State University, Ancient City, Police Bulldogs and Midlands State University (MSU) Shabanie Campus are in Pool A, while Platinum Warriors, MSU, GZU, Bulldogs, OMs and Gweru Sports Club form Pool B.

The women’s teams comprise Eagles, Nyambosi, Bulldogs and Great Zimbabwe University.

Craig Change, the new MRFB secretary-general, who also doubles up as treasurer, said they are also using the Sevens tournament to attract partners.

“We are determined to revive rugby in the southern region because we believe that players from this side have missed out on national team opportunities because of lack of game time.

“This series of Sevens competitions is only the beginning of our ambitious drive to re-ignite rugby’s interest, not only in Bulawayo, but the whole of the southern region,” said Change.

“Our major challenge is that we do not have sponsors, but we believe that through this initiative and other plans we have, we will be able to attract corporate partners.

“We want to make rugby a sport worth playing and a sport that can be a profession,” he said.

He said MRFB is also aiming at establishing partnerships with schools for development purposes, as well as colleges and universities to increase their presence. — @ZililoR.

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
THE delay by Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) in announcing the start of the 2016/17 season has affected first class provincial teams’ preparations, with Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers, formerly Matabeleland Tuskers Cricket Franchise, coach Wayne James saying it made planning difficult.
The 2016/17 domestic season starts in October and ZC, which has done away with franchise cricket and reverted to the old system of operating with a first class domestic competition, will meet the provinces next week to outline the programme.

James said he still had a huge training squad and they were only doing fitness exercises.

“It’s difficult to prepare when you don’t know when the season starts. As it is, we’re training with a big squad, concentrating on fitness drills and we will only move forward once we know when the season starts,” said James.

From a training squad of 30, the Tuskers boss has submitted his provisional list of 20 players that is still awaiting board approval.

“The board is likely to sit after the ZC and provincial representatives’ meeting. ZC public relations and media manager Darlington Majonga said the meeting with the provinces would be next Tuesday.

“The pre-season meeting to deliberate on the structure, conditions of play and fixtures is on Tuesday, 27 September. Only after that meeting should we be able to come up with a final draft of the 2016/17 calendar.

“We intend to have the first class season running between mid-October and April 2017,” Majonga said.

The first class provinces are Bulawayo Metropolitan Tuskers, Harare Metropolitan Eagles, Manicaland Mountaineers and Midlands Rhinos.

On players’ contracts, Majonga said: “We’ve given central contracts to 16 players and we will soon be giving provincial contracts. All that should happen before the start of the season.” — @ZililoR.

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
EIGHT teams will go into the hat for the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finals draw at the Village Lodge in Gweru on Tuesday morning next week.
According to Premier Soccer League communications and media liaison officer Kudzai Bare, the draw will take place at 11:30AM.

The eight teams that will go into the hat are FC Platinum, Tsholotsho, defending champions Harare City, Ngezi Platinum, ZPC Kariba, Highlanders, Triangle and How Mine.

FC Platinum, inaugural winners of the cup in 2014, dumped out fellow Midlanders Chapungu with a 2-0 victory, while Tsholotsho produced a giant killing act that felled former Cup Kings Caps United 5-4 on penalties after the two sides deadlocked 0-0 in regulation time.

Harare City emerged 4-0 winners over Border Strikers, sending a clear warning that they intend to defend the silverware.

Ngezi Platinum won 3-1 against fellow miners Hwange, while Highlanders emerged 2-1 victors over a stubborn Mutare City Rovers.

Triangle United beat Chicken Inn 1-0, while How Mine left the capital Harare in dead silence following a 5-4 penalty victory over Dynamos.

The two sides had played to a goalless draw after 90 minutes.

The quarter-finals will be played over the weekend of September 30 to October 2.

The venues are yet to be confirmed, but indications are that teams that will come out of the hat first will have home advantage, although the sponsors might want to have a say.

The semi-finals have been slotted for the weekend of October 21-23 and the grand final will be on November 5.

As it was in the first round, stalemates after 90 minutes will be decided by the dreaded penalty shootout, with only the final set to have extra time.
Winners of the cup will get $75 000 and a ticket to represent Zimbabwe in next year’s Caf Confederation Cup. — @skhumoyo2000.

Mbekezeli Ncube, Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO firm Davis Granite will jointly hold a fundraising sports fun day with Sizane High School to support pupils that have lost loved ones to the HIV/Aids pandemic.
The one-day event, which is in its eighth year, will be held at Sizane High and will feature over 200 participants in different sporting disciplines that include football, netball, tug-of-war, darts, chess and volleyball.

Davis Granite sports day convener Veronica Stanley said: “The vision of this event is to help orphaned children at Sizane High that have lost loved ones due to the HIV and Aids epidemic, and to make our youths aware of HIV.”

Sizane High will be joined by Christian Brothers College (CBC) among the schools, while Daltabs, Donny Strikers, AG Hotspurs, Cuban Doctors, Phelandaba Strikers, Davis Granite, Delta Beverages, Zimbabwe Republic Police and National Foods are some of the organisations that will join the fun.

About 14 teams have registered for football, nine for netball and six for darts.

Nine teams will lock horns in the tug-of-war and four teams each will do battle in chess and volleyball.

THE Zimbabwe A squad will play its second and final warm-up match at Old Hararians Sports Club in the capital today in preparation for the one-day series against Pakistan A.
The tourists are scheduled to arrive in Harare this evening for the five-match one-day series that begins on Monday. The second match will be on Wednesday, the third next Friday, the fourth on October 3 and the fifth on October 5. All matches will be played at Harare Sports Club.

Today’s practice match marks the end of a fortnight in which the Zimbabwe A squad has been working on fitness, fielding, bowling and batting with head coach Douglas Hondo assisted by his deputy Wayne James and fitness trainer Walter Karimanzira.

South African-based Tanaka Chivanga has been called up for the first time and he will be looking to impress the selectors as he sets his sights on the senior national team.

Among newcomers are bowlers Tapiwa Mufudza, Carl Mumba and Victor Nyauchi.

The national selectors also used the one-day series against Pakistan A to give game time to senior team players Elton Chigumbura and Malcolm Waller, who were not involved in the July Test tour by New Zealand and last played international matches in June when Zimbabwe hosted India.

After the five one-dayers, the tour will move to Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo used to prepare for the two Test matches against Sri Lanka at the end of October.

Zimbabwe A squad

Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Tendai Chisoro, Tanaka Chivanga, Neville Madziva, Shingirai Masakadza, Wellington Masakadza, Tapiwa Mufudza, Carl Mumba, Tawanda Mupariwa, Richmond Mutumbami, Taurai Muzarabani, Victor Nyauchi, Malcolm Waller
Douglas Hondo — coach, Wayne James

Assistant coach — Stanley Chioza

Team analyst — Anesu Mupotaringa

Physiotherapist — Walter Karimanzira

Fitness trainer

Lovemore Banda — team manager. — Zim Cricket.

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS have appointed long-serving board member Jimmy Ncube as the club’s new president, while Mathew Sibindi replaces him as secretary of the board of directors.
Ncube replaces Jonathan Themba Mhlanga, who died last Thursday after a long illness and was buried at Lady Stanley Cemetery in Bulawayo.
Mhlanga, who had been inactive in club business due to ill health, died at the age of 81.

“There have been new developments that have taken place at Highlanders FC after the passing on of the club president.

“JS Ncube, who has been the club secretary for a long time, has taken over as the club president and Mathew Sibindi has succeeded him as the new club secretary of the board of directors,” said board chairman and businessman Mgcini Nkolomi.

Ncube is a founding member of the Highlanders board of directors and has been a board member since the late 1960s when it was led by the late Mtshena Sidile.

He became board secretary in 1974.

“I feel betrayed by my colleagues for putting such a heavy load on me,” Ncube jokingly said.

He said being club president requires a lot of self- discipline and high moral standards.

“Everybody looks up to you for solutions all the time, but I believe that as long as we pull together, something which I have always seen at this institution, we will be able to find solutions to whatever challenges the club comes across,” said Ncube.

Turning to the performance of the team, Ncube urged the boys to keep on doing well and said anything was possible come end of the season.

“I will be so honoured if the boys go all the way and lift the league title as well as the Chibuku Super Cup.

“It will be a befitting honour to our late president Mhlanga and indeed a cherished gift to me and the rest of the Highlanders family,” said Ncube.

Rahman Gumbo

Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
Chicken Inn 2-0 Mutare City
RAHMAN Gumbo’s gamble to leave out toothless strikers Obidiah Tarumbwa and Moses Demera paid off as his side collected maximum points against relegation threatened Mutare City at White City Stadium yesterday.

Goals in either half by defender Lawrence Mhlanga and striker Ishmael Lawe gave champions Chicken Inn some relief following two consecutive defeats in league and cup matches.

A combination between Mhlanga and left-back Devine Lunga saw the centre-back rising above Mutare City Rovers’ defenders to head the champions into the lead in the 21st minute.

It was a deserving lead for Chicken Inn, who enjoyed superior ball possession all afternoon.

Lawe extended the lead three minutes after replacing Ozias Zibande, benefiting from a quick breakthrough the right side in the 76th minute.
Chicken Inn right-back Passmore Bernard intercepted a ball and fed the evergreen Clemence Matawu, who delivered a through pass to Lawe.
Lawe outpaced his marker to beat advancing Mutare City goalkeeper Philip Nhete with a grounder.

Zibande played as a lone striker, but Matawu and Tafadzwa Kutinyu took turns to partner him upfront after the champions went ahead.

The interchange of positions by the Chicken Inn midfielders made it difficult for the visitors to track Matawu, Kutinyu and Pride Tafirenyika, while anchorman Thabani Goredema made sure the central defence stood its ground.

Mutare City only had two half chances throughout the game. The first came in the 38th minute when Caleb Masocha turned in the box and took a snap shot that went straight to goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze.

The visitors’ skipper Chasten Ngondonga then sent his 76th minute header into the side netting.

After the match, Chicken Inn coach Rahman Gumbo, who initially used a 4-5-1 formation before switching to his favoured 3-5-2 after going into the lead, said the victory was a relief for his charges.

“Honestly this victory is a relief after two consecutive losses (0-1 to Caps United in the league and 0-1 against Triangle United in the first round of the Chibuku Super Cup). Today the changes we made, leaving out all the misfiring strikers, paid off. You could see that the players’ attitude was positive,” said Gumbo.

Following yesterday’s win, the champions moved a place up the ladder from position seven to sixth with 34 points from 24 matches.

Gumbo said he would not tinker with the team that beat Mutare City for their weekend game against Triangle United.

Mutare City coach Taku Shariwa said the compact White City pitch had an effect on their play and his players struggled to adapt to the turf as they overran the ball on many occasions.

“We didn’t impose ourselves the way we wanted and the pitch size also didn’t work in our favour. However, that is not an excuse because after Tsholotsho’s loss to Dynamos, we wanted to open a four-point gap from them, but that wasn’t the issue,” said Shariwa.

Mutare City Rovers are third from bottom on 21 points.

Castle Lager PSL Week 24 Results

Wednesday: Ngezi Platinum Stars 2-0 Chapungu, ZPC Kariba 0-0 Caps United, Border Strikers 0-0 FC Platinum, Bulawayo City 1-2 Triangle United, Dynamos 2-0 Tsholotsho FC

Yesterday: Chicken Inn 2-0 Mutare City Rovers, Harare City 0-1 Highlanders, How Mine 2-0 Hwange. — @ZililoR.

Kelvin Kaindu

Fungai Muderere, Sports Reporter
How Mine 2-0 Hwange
HOW Mine handed visiting Hwange a 2-0 battering to ensure the coalminers left empty-handed in yesterday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Luveve Stadium.

The coalminers beat the gold miners by an identical scoreline in the reverse leg played at the Colliery Stadium during the first half of the season.

How Mine scored through the energetic Toto Banda in the 54th minute and towering substitute Godfrey Nguwodzawo in the 80th minute to take their points tally to 31.

They are one point behind ninth-placed Harare City, who succumbed to a 0-1 defeat to Highlanders in the capital yesterday.

Enterprising former Absa Premiership side Ajax Cape Town utility player Milton Ncube made a clever chip into the Hwange box and the ball was flicked into Banda’s path for a tap-in.

Kelvin Kaindu’s men began to pile pressure on the coalminers in search of a second goal. In the 61st minute, Kaindu made a double change, introducing young Adolf Muganyi and Nguwodzawo for Timothy January and the ineffective Makanda.

Nguwodzawo then made it two for the hosts by beating the unheralded Taimon Mvula in goal for Chipangano.

The first half had nothing to write home about as the two sides closed the game up hoping to catch each other on the break.

Hwange’s Gift Mbweti had some moments of brilliance that caused anxious moments for the How Mine rearguard.

Despite his ball artistry and wizardry, Mbweti, who is the league’s leading scorer with eight goals, was let down by the veteran striking duo of Gilbert Zulu and Pritchard Mpelele.

In his post-match remarks, Kaindu said: “It is good that we managed to get maximum points against Hwange. I’m happy that we finally managed to score goals at Luveve Stadium’s southern goal. It had been long since we did that. The race is getting hotter and if you get points, you climb up the ladder.”

His opposite number Mabelo Njekwa reckoned they didn’t come to the party.

“Our marking was very loose, we were very hesitant at the back. We were letting the opponents enjoy, turn and play the ball. We hope to recover as we brace to face Border Strikers at home. Actually, I must say Kaindu and his team are in form,” said Njekwa.

Teams

How Mine: B Donovan, R Tsepo, M Ncube, v Kamhuka, T Khumbuyani, S Makundika, T Banda, P Manhanga , T January (A Mukanyi 80thmin), K Musharu , T Makanda (G Nguwodzawo 80th min)

Hwange: T Mvula, P Dube, G Ndlovu, A Tandi, A Chuma, O Moyo, C Muleya (A Banda 77th min), W Munorwei, P Mpelele (F Vimisayi 89th min), G Mbweti, G Zulu. — @FungaiMuderere

Richard Chihoro

Sports Reporter
DYNAMOS team manager Richard Chihoro says they are not playing for anyone, but themselves, when they face FC Platinum in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Mandava tomorrow.

Chihoro said the Glamour Boys were looking at winning their remaining six league matches, including tomorrow’s game.

“We are playing for ourselves. We want to finish in a very good position and remember we are ten points behind FC Platinum if we win we would be seven points behind them with five games to go and this is football and no one knows what will happen,” said Chihoro.

“We are ready for FC Platinum and morale is high and everyone is raring to go.

“We are taking each game as it comes but would want to win all our remaining matches.”

He said FC Platinum were likely to come out fighting with intensity after they dropped points in their last game.

Dynamos lost 0-1 to FC Platinum at Rufaro in the reverse fixture in coach Lloyd Mutasa’s first game after the departure of Portuguese gaffer Paulo Silva.

“They will be at home, they are hungry for points and want to win the league. But we are also looking for points.

“Last season we finished on second position so we really want to finish in a strong position even if we fail to lift the trophy,” said Chihoro.

Meanwhile, Chibuku Super Cup quarter-finalists will know their next round opponents on Tuesday when the draw is conducted in Gweru.

Defending champions Harare City, newboys Ngezi Platinum, league pacesetters FC Platinum, Bulawayo sides Highlanders and How Mine, Triangle, Tsholotsho and ZPC Kariba are the last eight teams in the competition.

The Chibuku Super Cup will resume on the weekend of September 30 to October 2.

The semi-finals will be staged on the weekend of October 21 to 23 while the team which will represent the country in the Confederation Cup next year will be known on November 5 when the last two teams battle for supremacy.

ZPC Kariba coach Sunday Chidzambwa said he is ready for any side left in the draw.

“If a team progresses, it means they are good team and Cup games are all about luck on that day. I would love to win the Chibuku Super Cup but if I had my way I would love to win both and the League Cup.”

Fixtures

Tomorrow: Chapungu v Bulawayo City (Ascot), FC Platinum v Dynamos (Mandava).

Sunday: Highlanders v Ngezi Platinum (Babourfields, SS), Hwange v Border Strikers (Colliery), Caps United v How Mine (National Sports Stadium), Mutare City v ZPC Kariba (Sakubva), Triangle v Chicken Inn (Gibbo).

Ariel Sibanda makes a crucial save to deny Harare City from the penalty spot

Eddie Chikamhi, Harare Bureau
Harare City 0 – 1 Highlanders FC
HIGHLANDERS coach Erol Akbay believes their victory over Harare City at Rufaro yesterday could provoke his team’s charges to go and for broke and try and win the Castle Lager Premiership title for the first time in 10 years.
The race cracked wide open yesterday after midfielder Allen Gahadzikwa scored the only goal of the match on the hour mark to lift Bosso to within four points of log leaders FC Platinum.

Goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda was the other hero as he made a crucial save to deny Harare City from the penalty spot after referee Brighton Chimene had awarded a hotly-contested penalty.

But with the win, Highlanders took advantage of the slip-up by the leading pack of FC Platinum and Caps United, who had dropped points in their matches the previous day, to take their points tally to 44.

And with six games remaining in the season, and 18 points to play for, Akbay yesterday said it was game on and was confident Highlanders will have a big say in the destiny of this year’s championship.

The Bulawayo giants last won the league title back in 2006 with Methembe Ndlovu as coach and are desperate to end the barren run.

Akbay was in high spirits after the match yesterday with the renewed hopes of a strong finish.

“They (FC Platinum and Caps United) dropped the points and that means we have moved two points closer to these guys and that will give them more pressure to win every game and motivation for us to win also every game.

“We have six games to go now and there is a difference of four points, it’s not too much. That means if you have a chance you have to go for it and we want to go for the championship, yes.

“This game is good motivation. To win the next game again is very important,” said Akbay.

Highlanders are enjoying a purple patch and have gained more ground in the last month following an impressive run of four successive wins over How Mine, Border Strikers, Dynamos and Harare City.

Remarkably, this was not only Highlanders’ first win over Harare City at Rufaro since 2012 when the Sunshine Boys came to the big stage but it was also the first time they had scored them at the venue.

It needed mid-season signing Gahadzikwa to break the jinx for Bosso when he beat the Harare City defenders to an aerial ball and planted a powerful header from a good cross by rookie forward Prince Dube.

Earlier in the game, the supporters were treated to some interesting duels with the sides playing good which tested both goalkeepers Tafadzwa Dube and Sibanda.

Highlanders nearly punished the hosts when City goalkeeper Dube failed to deal with a high cross from rightback Tendai Ngulube but the hosts responded with a swift counter attack.

Warriors midfielder, Raphael Manuvire, should count himself unlucky after his pile-driver crashed against the basement of the upright post and from the rebound rookie striker Jerry Chipangura somehow misdirected his shot wide.

Highlanders supporters rained missiles onto the pitch after the referee adjudged their captain Erick Mudzingwa handled the ball in an attempt to clear the lines.

The decision was met with protests from the visitors and poetic justice was delivered as goalkeeper Sibanda dived to his right and blocked William Manondo’s spot kick.

Sibanda made another frantic save, injuring himself in the process, when he stretched full length and tipped the ball over the bar after Ronald Chitiyo had unleashed a fierce volley at the edge of the box.

Akbay said they are aiming to maintain the pressure on the top two teams by winning their next assignment at home against Tonderai Ndiraya’s Ngezi Platinum.

Harare City coach Moses Chunga was disappointed by his side’s performance, especially coming from a big win in the Chibuku Super Cup where they hammered struggling newboys Border Strikers 4-0 in their last match.

“It’s disappointing the way we played. I think in first half we controlled the game but our execution in front of goal wasn’t that good.

“It’s always disappointing to lose but as I have said we had 10 players (unavailable for selection) but I don’t mourn about that.

“We have to find a solution, that’s the name of the game,” said Chunga.

Teams

Harare City: T Dube, T Chimwemwe, H Chimutimunzeve (D. Mawere, 73rd min), H Chapusha, J Tigere, W Manondo, J Jam, R Manuvire (G Kufandada, 64th min), T Tumba, R Chitiyo, J Chipangura (K Kumwala, 64th min)

Highlanders: A Sibanda, T Ngulube, H Moyo, P Muduhwa, T Ndlovu, S Munawa (K Nadolo, 48th min), E Mudzingwa, A Gahadzikwa, R Kutsanzira, N Ndlovu (G Nyoni, 38th min), P Dube (R Matema, 88th min)

Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS’ life members will tomorrow meet at the club house to review resolutions that were made in their last meeting.

The initial one, while attended by a handful of members was one of the most fruitful meetings the club has ever held with the major resolutions being $20 monthly contributions which will go towards the liquidation of the club’s ballooning debt.

“As agreed in our initial meeting, we will be meeting on Sunday (tomorrow) to review resolutions taken in the initial meeting,” said Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede.

He said they will also look at other options that can be implemented so that Highlanders’ financial situation can be alleviated.

Bosso is reeling in debts of close to a $1 million.

Meanwhile, Highlanders will today hold a family sports day as part of the club’s celebration of 90 years of existence. The sports day will see Highlanders supporters and members engaging in a number of sporting activities like darts, netball football and pool.

“These are part of our celebrations.  It will be a family fun day really and we invite everyone to come and celebrate with us. The first team will also pass by on their way to camp as you know we are playing Ngezi Platinum on Sunday,” said Gumede.

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
LUPANE State University will today hold a fundraising golf tournament at the Elephants Hills Golf Course in Victoria Falls with more than 96 golfers expected to tee off.

The tertiary institution hopes to raise a minimum of $60 000 which will go towards the construction of a clinic at the university’s main campus in Lupane.

Zwelithini Dlamini, the institution’s marketing and public relations director said the idea of constructing a clinic came up after the realisation that the nearest health facility to the campus was overwhelmed by patients from the surroundings while the other was more than 30KM away.

“The golf tournament is for us to raise funds for the construction of a clinic within the university campus as we feel Lupane clinic and St Luke’s Hospital could be overwhelmed with patients. While Lupane clinic is not very far from the campus, St Luke’s is more than 30KM away hence we feel they might not adequately attend to the medical needs of the campus,” said Dlamini.

The tournament will use a Four Ball Better Ball format.

In this format, golfers tee off in groups of four (either as one four-person team or as two, two-person teams), and each golfer plays his own ball. So there are four balls in play on each hole, but only one ball (the better ball, or low ball) counts per team per hole.

If four-person teams are in use, then all four golfers tee off and play their own balls into the hole. The low score among the four counts as the team score for that hole. If two-person teams are in use, then Team One and Team Two tee off together (so four balls are still in play), and each team’s low ball counts as that team’s score on each hole. With two-person teams, 4BBB can be played as stroke play or match play.

This is the second fundraising golf tournament that the university has held this year with the initial one held at Harry Allen Golf Club in Bulawayo in March.

Allen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
INLINE Academy will be out to extend their  unbeaten streak to 15 matches when they host Hwange Ladies this afternoon following their 1-0 victory against ZRP Bulawayo in a catch up fixture on Thursday.

The match was postponed last week after the police-owned team notified the league bosses that their players would be committed with work duties.
Inline Academy are topping the table with 36 points from 14 matches and only drew three games. Second placed Hearts of Oaks have 30 points having played 14 matches.

Meanwhile, Highlanders Royals will be hoping to continue winning when they take on Cowdray Park at the clubhouse on today. Last Saturday,

Royals recorded their second victory in open play when they beat Street Set 1-0 in Sizinda suburb.

The first was a 3-0 win over ZRP Bulawayo Province.

Prior to the two wins the team had gone for 12 consecutive defeats only managing to collect three points as a result of a walkover after Sobukhazi failed to fulfil a fixture in June.

Royals — a majority of their players who are schoolgirls from Nkulumane and Sobukhazi High Schools — currently sit third from the bottom with nine points from 14 matches.

Royals manageress Jacqueline Ngwenya is optimistic the team will pull another shocker against their more experienced opponents Cowdray Park.

“This is the beginning of good things. Cowdray Park should expect a totally different Royals because we have improved a lot in the last few weeks,” she said.

Saturday fixtures

ZRP vs Magwegwe Stars, Black Boots vs Street Set, Highlanders Royals vs Cowdray Park, Inline Academy vs Hwange Ladies

— @khumzallen

Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
SECOND placed and highly determined Ingagula FC have a perfect chance to shoot to the apex of the Zifa Matabeleland North Division Two league when they face Trumus Warriors in a tricky away game today at Chinotimba Stadium as table topping army side Moto Moto are inactive due to work commitments.

The soldiers’ duel with Classic Luyando has been moved to Wednesday next week.

Nathan Banda-coached Ingagula, behind Moto Moto by a point, have their tails up after demolishing Blackrock 7-0 last weekend and will hope their prolific goal getters Wayne Shumba and Garayipasi Chiwara will be in usual form in this clearly difficult assignment.

Third placed Mosi Rovers, who have risen up the table in the past few weeks, will hope to continue with their sparkling form and beat visiting Hwange U-17.

Captain Tyson Ncube, veteran defenders Ndabazabo  Ndlovu and Definite Tsikwa have been in superb form for Mosi Rovers who have surprised all and sundry in their debut season.

Fourth on the rankings Baobab Rovers will hope to bounce back from their shock home loss to Mosi Rovers when they travel to Victoria Falls for a date against inconsistent Corinthians and will bank on the exploits of Govern Sikapila, Brandon Phiri and Albert Zulu.

On the same day, Blackrock must be at their best as they host Lukhosi Pirates at Sports Pavilion with both sides coming from defeats last week.

On Sunday Tenex FC will hope to rub more salt into Iwisa’s wounds at Lwendulu Old ground.

At Chinotimba Stadium, Hotspurs Leopards will look to the scoring prowess of Madodana Lunga as they take on Amagagasi U-19 who have been blowing hot and cold so far this year.

Full fixtures at a glance

Saturday: Mosi Rovers v Hwange U-17 (Chinotimba 1130hrs); Trumus Warriors v Ingagula (Chinotimba 1530hrs); Blackrock v Lukhosi Pirates (Sports Pavilion 1500hrs);

Sunday: Iwisa v Tenex (Old ground 1200hrs); Corinthians v Baobab Rovers(Chinotimba 1000hrs); Amagagasi U 19 v Hotspurs Leopards(Chinotimba
1200hrs) Classic Luyando v Moto Moto (postponed).

— @tobymandox