The Sunday News
Langton Nyakwenda, Harare Bureau
Ngezi Platinum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Pamplemousses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
(Ngezi won 2-1 on aggregate)
NGEZI Platinum Stars’ fairytale continued yesterday when the debutants booked a place in the Confederation of African Football Confederation Cup first round after dispatching visiting Pamplemousses of Mauritius at the National Sports Stadium.
A solitary strike by livewire forward Terrence Dzvukamanja in the 19th minute carried the day for the Mhondoro miners who will now face Recreativo do Libolo of Angola in the next round. After holding the Mauritians 1-1 away in Port Louis last Sunday, Madamburo opened their game a bit and were quick off the blocks in search of an early goal.
And they got one through Dzvukamanja who collected a Godknows Murwira cross from the right, turned his marker and fired into the top corner. Tonderai Ndiraya’s men fluffed numerous chances but still managed to hang on to a memorable victory which was witnessed by a sizeable number of fans most of whom were bused from the team’s base in Mhondoro.
Dribbling wizard Donald Teguru should have doubled the lead in the 56th minute but he missed a rebound from close range after Pamplemousses goalkeeper Jean Louis Kevin had punched back Qadr Amini’s ferocious strike. Ndiraya had earlier on been forced into making a change when striker Kenneth Bulaji sustained an injury in the 38th minute.
The former Caps United and Dynamos forward was replaced by MacClive Phiri who joined Ngezi from Tsholotsho. In the end Ndiraya didn’t want to dwell much on the missed chances as he felt his boys deserved credit for creating those opportunities.
“The good thing is that we created the chances and in a game of football you have to create for you to score,” said Ndiraya.
The tactically astute Ndiraya used his favored 3-4-3 formation with Partson Jaure, Dominic Mukandi and Byron Madzokere playing at centre back and the trio was not troubled much by the visitors.
Ndiraya will now start planning for the first round clash against Libolo next month and the former Dynamos gaffer is wary of the Angolans.
“Angola is a respected football nation so it will not be easy at all,” he said.
Pamplemousses will, however, feel hard done by Malawian referee Ishmael Chizinga who dismissed the visitors’ penalty appeals when Mukandi appeared to have handled the ball in the 22nd minute.
And their coach Tony Francois recalled the incident in his post-match remarks.
“Yeah, I thought it was a penalty because the player clearly handled the ball but that happens in football. However, that should not take away the fact that Ngezi are a good side. They have athletic players, very physical and skillful too,” he said.
Teams
Ngezi Platinum Stars: N. Chadya, P. Jaure, B. Madzokere, D. Mukandi, X. Moyo, L. Chakoroma (Mhungu 80 mins), Q. Amini, G. Murwira, D. Teguru (Mabvura 85 mins), T. Dzvukamanja, K. Bulaji (Phiri 38 mins).
Pamplemousses: J. Kevin, W. Martin, W. Seraphin, J. Jeff, K. Agath, B. Collin (M. Jocelin), Holas, K. Perticots (Fabrice 84 mins), K. Saramautif, F. Raza, B. Ziz
