Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Mtulisi Mafa
26 June 2008
Harare — CAPS United must have left the ceremonial home of football, Rufaro, with a sense of pride that had been a rare feeling at the start of the season.
What with a master class display from young striker Nyasha Mushekwi that floored Motor Action yesterday. Motor Action had raced ahead through a Simba Zimora strike, but CAPS United midfielder Ashley Rambanapasi levelled in the first period before a memorable second half brace from Mushekwi gave the Harare giants their second win on the trot.
While both sides gave this chilly afternoon in the capital some good football, it was young Mushekwi who stole the hearts of many as he delivered a superb performance, harassing the defence and showing great skill in positioning himself. He also showed a great eye for goal, the kind that seems to be lacking in the national team.
CAPS United coach Jostein Mathuthu, presiding over his second win since joining the Green Machine, had nothing but praise for the former basketball player and predicted a bright future as he reflected on a fine display from his side. "He still has a lot to learn. What I like about him is that he is always eager to learn. He can make a mistake, but you know the next thing is he will try and rectify it.
"He is hardworking and if he continues with that attitude, he can go a long way," said Mathuthu of Mushekwi. There was just a lot different about CAPS United -- their determined attitude to win and an awesome passing game led by the midfield brains of Eddie Mashiri and Rambanapasi.
The Mighty Bulls offered some good competition. They were very mobile with a passing game that brought life to the contest. It's a pity the result did not go their way at the end of the day. The Mighty Bulls somehow allowed themselves to be bullied by CAPS United, especially in the second period, and they lacked a forward line that could bother Tsungi Mudzamiri.
Clemence Matawu did everything a player ought to do. He kept his rivals on the alert, gliding past the green shirts all afternoon, but just like last Sunday while on national duty, he left Rufaro dejected.
Yet he had worked his socks off and was the architect of the Mighty Bulls opener, when his clever cross picked Zimora on the run inside the area, and the latter slid under challenge to stab the ball in after 13 minutes.
CAPS United, hardly moved by the goal, kept their nerves and could have been level six minutes later. Mashiri, having a fine afternoon, broke off towards the by-line and picked out Takesure Chiragwi inside the area, but the makeshift winger miscued his effort to deliver a harmless effort that was cleared away.
But two minutes later, Rambanapasi fired the home side level from just outside the area to mark an awesome return to domestic football after yet another fine display last weekend.
CAPS United had a huge slice of possession in the second period, taking control of midfield with Mashiri, Rambanapasi, overlapping defender Oscar Machapa and Hasmonia Ziso leading the attack. Mushekwi kept harassing the Bulls defence, creating space and troubling Marlon Jani with some dangerous efforts.
It was only a matter of time before he found the opener, and he was duly rewarded 15 minutes from time, when he fired into the right corner on the turn. The big striker ended the Bulls' hopes for an equaliser four minutes from time when he cleverly turned in between his markers to fire a low shot beyond substitute goalkeeper Witness Munkuli, who had replaced the injured Jani.
Mathuthu praised his players and said he had never doubted that CAPS United would regain their winning touch.
"We didn't panic when we conceded, that is the whole idea and we kept playing our normal game. It's good to win and I would like to believe that it was only a matter of time before this team started winning.
"It could have happened with the previous coaches. They did all the groundwork and I don't want to believe that these results are coming through because of my work alone. "They could have done the same thing and I'm lucky that that time has come with me in charge, but let's give due credit to the previous coaches as well," Mathuthu said.
Mathuthu was facing Motor Action for the first time since he dumped them in a shock move to join CAPS United and the nomadic coach will probably relish the victory for some time to come given the pressure that Makepekepe have been under.
In contrast, new Mighty Bulls coach Lindile Dube is still to register his first win since replacing Mathuthu.
CAPS United...(1) 3 Motor Action ...(1) 1
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
