Chiefs hold Manica Diamonds

Innocent Kurira at Luveve Stadium

Bulawayo Chiefs 0-0 Manica Diamonds.

ON numerous occasions, it seemed the hosts would utilise the chances they got after catching the visitors on the break but they squandered all those opportunities.

The chief culprits being Miguel Feldman, Leroy Ndlovu and Nkosiyabo Masilela who managed to get into good positions but could not hit the net.

The visitors, on the other hand, enjoyed much of the ball but could not turn their dominance into goals.
In the end, both teams had to settle for a goalless draw.

The result leaves Manica Diamonds two points behind log leaders FC Platinum who are away to TelOne today.
The Gem boys are now on 32 points while the Platinum miners are on 34.
Chiefs, in position 11 moved to 20 points, tied with Herentals and Greenfuel who are both in action today against Chicken Inn and Dynamos respectively.

Bulawayo Chiefs coach Thulani Sibanda felt this was a game they could have won.

“It’s a game we wanted to win. It’s a game we could have won. Of course we knew we could not go 50-50 with these guys in terms of their physical stature as our team is made up of players with a small body frame. So we were forced to play the ball on the ground because we couldn’t lift up the ball because of the opponents’ height. We created quite a bit of good chances. With a bit of composure we could have buried them,” said Sibanda.

Manica Diamonds had a depleted technical team as head coach Jairos Tapera is with the Warriors at the Cosafa Cup tournament in South Africa while assistant coach Tafadzwa Mashiri had a bereavement to attend leading Patrick Mandizha in charge of the game.

“I am happy that we managed to get a point away from home which is good for us going forward. I’m quite happy with the substitutions that we made, they managed to improve our attack. In the first-half we were rotating the ball at the back and failing to penetrate the midfield and also in attack, we created numerous chances but failed to capitalise. The guys that came in also couldn’t assist us in getting the result,” said Mandizha.

On Kudakwashe Mahachi he said: “We are still working on Mahachi’s fitness, he’s not yet at the optimal level that we would like him to be that’s why we usually introduce him late in the game. His experience also helps with the youngsters in the team.”

Chiefs got a chance early in the eighth minute with veteran Xolisani Moyo heading his effort wide off goal from a corner kick.

In the 22nd minute, Manica Diamonds came close to breaking the deadlock through Tawanda Macheke but the striker’s shot from outside the box didn’t bother the Chiefs’ shot stopper Prosper Matutu as it went over the bar.

Six minutes later, the Chiefs skipper on the day, Emmanuel Chikwende found Masilela down the left wing. He put in a brilliant cross which, however, didn’t find any takers inside the box.

At the half-hour mark, Jeffrey Takunda’s shot for Manica Diamonds went over the bar.
It would go on to the break nil all.
At the start of the second stanza, Manica Diamonds made one change, with Enoch Karembo coming in for Nigel Mupinduki.

In the 58th minute, Kudzanai Dhemere came close to putting the visitors in front but his shot from inside the box was cleared off the line by Ciphas Musikavanhu.

Mahachi was brought into action in the 69th minute and a few minutes later, got a free kick in a promising position.
Mahachi went for goal but failed to beat the Chiefs wall and the hosts broke out on a counter-attack which they failed to capitalise on.

It would be the last real chance of the match and both teams had to settle for a draw.

Teams:
Bulawayo Chiefs:
Prosper Matutu (gk), Ciphas Musikavanhu, Bukhosi Sibanda (Leroy Ndlovu, 67mins), Emmanuel Chikwende, Nkosiyabo Masilela (Panashe Shoko, 67mins), Xolisani Moyo, Nkosilathi Ncube, Lucky Ndlela (Joe Nyabinde, 48mins), Miguel Feldman (Mpilwenhle Dube, 80mins), Godfrey Muchenje, Jameson Masaza

Manica Diamonds:Geoffrey Chitsumba (gk), Lawrence Masibera, Thubelihle Jubani, Kelvin Gwao, Tawanda Chisi, Jeffery Takunda, Nigel Mupinduki (Enoch Karembo, 46mins), Kudzanai Dhemere (Brett Amidu, 69mins), Panashe Mtasa (Kuda Mahachi, 69mins), Fortune Binzi (Garikai Dematsika, 80mins), Tawanda Macheke. – @innocentskizoe