The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
Bantu Rovers …………………………………….. 0
Black Rhinos ………………………………… (1) 1
BLACK Rhinos bagged the first three points of the 2014 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, thanks to a solitary strike by Brian Muzondikwa, when they beat Bantu Rovers at Luveve Stadium yesterday. The game, that kicked off at lunch time, saw Bantu Rovers dominating play in the first half but it was Rhinos who managed to utilise the only chance they got in that period and with it the three points that were at stake.
Ironically, Muzondikwa grabbed the first goal of the 2014 Premiership season in the 18th minute when Bantu failed to clear the ball in a rare onslaught by the visitors and the 21-year-old player bamboozled an opposition defender before slotting it past a hapless Takunda Mutanga, who was in between the posts for the Premiership returnees.
Although Bantu were menacing in front of goal from the first whistle they dismally failed to convert the chances that came their way.
The visiting side came back a rejuvenated side in the second half and used counter-attacks to trouble the home team.
A chance fell to Nqobizitha Masuku to give Bantu the lead when Lawson Nkomo crossed into the box from the right flank in the 26th minute but Masuku failed to get to the ball as his bicycle kick went haywire.
The home side’s striker Tafadzwa Ngwenya made a beautiful flick into the box but Moses Majika failed to latch onto the bouncing ball allowing the Rhinos rearguard to clear their lines 35 minutes into the game.
Majika, who had a bad day in office, later failed to capitalise on a back pass to Jonathan Zvaita, allowing the Rhinos goalkeeper to recover.
Six minutes later Proud Zireni released a stinger after making a short run from the centre of the pitch but found Zvaita at his best.
It was Rhinos who created scoring opportunities in the second half with the troublesome Lot Chiwunga having his shot on the left flank saved by Mutanga in the 51st minute. Twelve minutes later Chiwunga crossed in from the right flank but the thankless Muzondikwa shot over the bar.
A quick counter attack by Zvaita saw him directing his effort to Chiwunga, in the 69th minute, who beat Zephaniah Ngodzo and Zireni but directed a grounder off-target.
At the other end substitute Patrick “Mboma” Mpofu could have equalised when released by Zireni but was a shade too slow.
Bantu Rovers coach Methembe Ndlovu admitted that he was out-thought by his Rhinos counterpart Arthur Tutani.
“I think the players played well but the second half proved difficult as they (Rhinos) were the better side, creating more chances and we did not create scoring opportunities.
“They managed to hit us on the counter attack several times and we could not provide any solution. Although they scored in the first half, we were the better side then and we should have made good on our chances,” he said.
Tutani was happy with the three points albeit admitting that Bantu Rovers were a good team.
“Our strikers were wasteful in the second half as we could have scored four goals but what is critical is that we defended well as a team and that was the important thing,” he said.
Teams
Bantu Rovers: T Mutanga, Z Ngodzo, E Tshuma, N Masuku, L Nkomo, T Kutinyu, O Tarumbwa (M Tshuma 87th), P Zireni, F Ncube, M Majika (B Sibanda 56th), T Ngwenya (P Mpofu, 77th)
Black Rhinos: J Zvaita, J Mukombwe, M Kureva, S Jimu, B Homora, W Kapinda, B Muzondikwa (C Chiutsa, 90th), M Mine (T Anja 54th), W Chakanyuka, P Marufu (T Muchacha, 58th), L Chiwunga.
