Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Mtulisi Mafa
9 November 2009
Harare — CAPS United's impressive run in the Premiership championship race continued yesterday when they delivered a thorough footballing lecture to a hapless Lengthens side at Rufaro.
There is no prize for guessing the executor these days as Nyasha Mushekwi grabbed his 21st goal of the season with the opener before a stunning Gilbert Mapemba free-kick and Oscar Machapa's strike put them out of sight.
But there was drama in the VIP stand when a man with ties to Lengthens confronted CAPS United director Farai Jere and accused him of having paid his side's players to influence the match during the week.
Lengthens suspended two players, goalkeeper Muzondiwa Gonese and defender Ronald Sengu, following allegations that they were seen last week by one of the club's directors coming from Jere's offices in the eastern suburbs of Harare.
The confrontation resulted in CAPS United bouncers and fans invading the VIP stand as they bayed for their director's assailant's blood before the Lengthens fan made good his escape.
Lengthens manager Robert Matoka confirmed that they had suspended the two players over the allegations.
"We lost but the referee frustrated our players by issuing a lot of unnecessary cards and before the match the morale was just low after speculation of match-fixing involving some of our senior players.
"We have since suspended the two players and we are investigating the issue," Matoka said.
CAPS United director Jere denied the allegations and believes their rivals were just looking for scapegoats.
Away from the controversy, CAPS United's win yesterday ensured that they kept the leading sides -- Dynamos and Gunners -- within reach.
But with the leading duo of Dynamos and Gunners winning their crucial matches yesterday, CAPS United can only hope for a miracle if they are to sneak in and win the championship.
Lengthens will only have themselves to blame and it's still a lot difficult to understand how striker Dennis Joronawo missed two glorious chances that even a little girl would have put away.
The Happy People looked to overrun CAPS United in the early stages, keeping their rivals back pedalling though their first scoring chance arrived only after 19 minutes of probing.
Lengthens most prized asset Artwell "Tuhwe" Nyamiwa delivered a fine cross to the blind side where Joronawo was unmarked, but the striker unbelievably headed over an empty net.
It was as good a chance as they come and only six minutes later, the striker was presented with yet another chance when he was set up just outside the area, but he fired wide.
The Happy People kept their foot on the pedal and on 28 minutes midfielder Patrick Makuvaza watched his strike being blocked by goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda's feet.
But CAPS United delivered a blow to the home side when they punished them against run of play.
Deadly marksman Mushekwi -- carrying in from his multiple goalscoring feats before the break and his double heroics in the Cosafa final -- powered in a fine header for the opener nine minutes from the break.
The momentum suddenly swung CAPS United's way and it was Mushekwi who came close to doubling the advantage, but his shot veered inches off the mark.
But the big striker was guilty of missing a sitter after some good passes saw Tafadzwa Rusike setting him up but he tapped his effort wide.
CAPS United maintained their dominance and on 58 minutes they went 2-0 up following an awesome free-kick from Mapemba which nestled into the top corner.
Lengthens were finding it difficult to get themselves back into the match and they looked to have resigned everything to fate.
But it was all over as any faint hopes of getting back into the game vanished when substitute Machapa peeled away from his marker, cut inside before firing into the nets.
Lengthens pulled one back in injury-time off a penalty after Lionel Mtizwa was adjudged to have handled in the area.
Last Chibwiro converted the spot kick
However, it was too little to make any changes to the result.
CAPS United manager Wilson Mutekede says their main aim is to just keep winning.
"We are happy to have won, we have just carried on from where we left. We started slowly but picked up in the second half.
"We just want to keep doing well and winning games and we will see what happens," he said.
Teams
Lengthens: F. Chifamba; D. Joronawo (F. Mandiwanzira 43rd minute); B. Tshuma; P. Makuvaza; A. Nyamiwa; R. Mteki; S. Nyagwaya (L. Chibwiro 66th minute); N. Khanye; A. Chivheya; G. Moyo; E. Tinarwo.
CAPS United: E. Sibanda; G. Mapemba; G. Karimupfumbi (D. Walaza 57th minute); P. Marime; M. Mwanjali; L. Mtizwa; A. Rambanapasi; M. Samaneka (O. Machapa 57th minute); T. Rusike; Y. Esisa (L. Tsipa 30th minute).
Lengthens ..................................................................................................(0) 1
CAPS United..............................................................................................(1) 3
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 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.
