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Monomotapa sink Highlanders
By
Nkanyiso Moyo
HIGHLANDERS inched closer to hitting the panic button after suffering
their second consecutive 2-1 defeat, this time at home to Norman Mapeza’s
Monomotapa on Sunday.
After exiting the African Confederations Cup, Highlanders have found a premiership opposition ready to challenge them, and following last week’s 2-1 defeat away at Gunners, the club’s fans are beginning a dialogue over Methembe Ndlovu’s future at the club.
Pressure has been growing on the coach who won the league title in his first season two years ago, and it showed during the abandoned game with Gunners when he raced onto the pitch with five minutes to go and confronted the referee. Bar a miracle, that game will be awarded to Gunners by the PSL’s disciplinary committee after it was abandoned.
But in Norman Mapeza, Highlanders can find some lessons on patience.
The Motor Action coach came within a game of being axed from the club after a dreadful start to the campaign. But his team has posted five consecutive victories, and is suddenly in touch with leaders, Chapungu.
Monomotapa play champions Dynamos on Thursday, and Mapeza believes victory over Highlanders is the best preparation.
He said: “We got a good result away from home, and I have to commend the players’ mental strength. We had a false start when we lost four opening games, but things are moving in the right direction for us, thanks to teamwork.”
Highlanders’ teamwork suffered with the absence of goalkeeper Washington Arubi and defender Gilbert Banda who were with the national team playing away in Guinea. Gift Lunga, red-carded during the Gunners debacle, also sat this one out, and Highlanders suffered.
Still, Ndlovu blamed his team’s troubles on poor finishing.
He said: “We created chances, but we could not score and that is something we will continue to work on. We gave our best performance and I must congratulate Monomotapa for winning.”
The one man, however, who continues to deliver for Highlanders is Cuthberth Malajila, the free scoring off-season snatch from Chapungu. Malajila thrust Highlanders into the lead on nine minutes, benefitting from a defensive howler by Voster Chitema before finding his spot past goalkeeper Godfrey Mangove.
But Monomotapa were level on the half hour through Daniel Zokoto, who squeezed the ball between Highlanders’ Zephaniah Ngodzo and the post after some goal-mouth action.
Monomotapa sealed their win five minutes later when Asani Nhongo chased after Zokoto’s long ball which was always going out before he brought it back into play. He released an early pass for Charles Chiutsa who planted the ball in the net.
At Gwanzura, new CAPS United coach Joisten Mathuthu bought some breathing space at the club that suffocated and rejected Luke Masomere last week following a poor start.
United drew 1-1 with Kiglon, despite taking the lead after 20 minutes through Nyasha Mushekwi. Kiglon, second on the league table and enjoying a brilliant start in their debut season, were level on 60 minutes through Tawanda Nyamandwe.
At Ascot, leaders Chapungu condemned Lengthens to their second defeat in a row with a 2-0 win carved by goals from Dumisani Mupfudze and goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda’s wonder strike in the 90th minute.
At Mucheke, youth international Ovidy Karuru scored in the last minute to give Masvingo a 2-1 win over Gunners. Masvingo’s Issac Chapura had scored after just 10 minutes, before Nathan Zwini equalised five minutes later.
At Baghdad, Lancashire Steel drew 1-1 with Njube Sundowns who stay third.
CBZ
Premier Soccer League Results:
Sunday- Highlanders 1-2 Monomotapa, CAPS United 1-1 Kiglon,
Lancashire Steel 1-1 Njube Sundowns, Masvingo 2-1 Gunners, Chapungu
2 -0 Lengthens
Wednesday: Shooting Stars v Eastern Lions (Gwanzura)
Thursday: Dynamos v Monomotapa (Gwanzura)
CBZ Premier Soccer League Table (1 June 2008)
TEAM
|
Played |
Won |
Drew |
Lost |
G/F |
G/A |
Points |
|
| 1 | Chapungu | 10 |
6 |
3 |
1 |
18 |
5 |
21 |
| 2 | Kiglon | 10 |
4 |
5 |
1 |
12 |
8 |
17 |
| 4 | Motor Action | 9 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
12 |
9 |
16 |
| 3 | Njube Sundowns | 10 |
5 |
1 |
4 |
18 |
16 |
16 |
| 5 | Monomotapa | 9 |
5 |
0 |
4 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
| 6 | Masvingo United | 10 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
9 |
13 |
14 |
| 7 | Dynamos | 7 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
8 |
3 |
13 |
| 8 | Underhill | 9 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
15 |
17 |
13 |
| 9* | Highlanders | 7 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
12 |
4 |
12 |
| 10* | Gunners | 9 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
11 |
13 |
11 |
| 11 | Lengthens | 10 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
10 |
16 |
11 |
| 12 | CAPS FC | 9 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
10 |
11 |
10 |
| 13 | CAPS United | 10 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
13 |
9 |
| 14 | Lancashire Steel | 10 |
2 |
2 |
6 |
10 |
15 |
8 |
| 15 | Shooting Stars | 9 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
6 |
14 |
7 |
| 16 | Eastern Lions | 8 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
7 |
* Log does NOT include the Gunners v Highlanders match which awaits PSL disciplinary ruling
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