The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
Bulawayo City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Black Rhinos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0
BULAWAYO City maintained their unbeaten run under coach Farai Tawachera but missed out on an opportunity to collect maximum points against Black Rhinos in a lifeless Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
Amakhosi are now unbeaten in three matches since Tawachera replaced Philani “Beefy” Ncube last month. They have collected five points from those three matches, which has not helped their situation as they remain second from the bottom of the log with 12 points.
Substitute Dalubuhle Dlodlo had a great opportunity to hand City the three points five minutes before the end only for his effort to go agonisingly wide when he had a yawning goal to shoot at. A minute later another substitute, Brighton Christopher could have given Rhinos the maximum points only to shoot wide from close range.
In a match devoid of goalmouth action, Welcome Ndiweni rattled the cross bar with half an hour played in what was the only highlight of the first half which saw goalkeepers from both teams being reduced to spectators.
Tawachera felt it was a tough encounter for his team as they wanted to grab all the three points on offer.
Farai Tawachera Byo City coach
“It was a difficult match, we wanted all the three points, when you play at home you try to go at all costs, try collect as much as you can but that’s what we got today, a point. We had chances, we missed one or two sitters we could have finished, it’s a game of football, better to create the chances than not to create the chances,’’ remarked Tawachera.
Herbert Maruwa, the Rhinos coach stated that they had come to Bulawayo with the hope of securing the three points but had to be content with a draw.
“We did very well, a draw is a fair result, we came here hoping to win the game but the point we gained is going to add value at the end of the season,’’ Maruwa said.
Maruwa could not be drawn to comment on allegations that they used Joe Nyabinde who was meant to be serving a suspension after accumulating three yellow cards but did only said the player actually followed the team to Bulawayo after being cleared by the PSL.
Herbert Maruwa
Yesterday’s match was watched by new Highlanders coach Baltermar Brito and his assistant Antonio Torres. Bosso, who face Harare City at Barbourfelds this afternoon take on Rhinos when the action resumes at the end of this month after a two-week break.
Teams
Bulawayo City: R Muza, L Ncube, V Moyo, L Sibanda, Wilfred Munorwei, M Ncube, C Chinomona (Jaricha 87 mins) the, W Ndiweni (R Sibanda 73 mins), C Machisi (Dlodlo 79 mins), G Mutungamiri, N Ndlovu
Black Rhinos: B Mwandimutsira, F Banda, A Shirichena, G Madhake, P Makaha, A Phiri, J Nyabinde (Mleya 69 mins), A Gahadzikwa (Christopher 84 mins), T Nyamandwe, S Murove (Madera 69 mins), V Mhandu (Ilunga 68 mins)
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