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Ray Bande in Mutare
Buffaloes 2-0 Flame Lily

TWO goals in the last 10 minutes was all that Castle Lager Premiership reigning Coach of the Year Saul Chaminuka needed to register his first win since his return as the army teams’ head coach in yesterday’s low key encounter against Flame Lily at Sakubva.

With both teams deep in the relegation zone and gunning for nothing less than maximum points, emotions were naturally simmering and it was commendable Harare referee Ruzive Ruzive’s firm grip that ensured things remained under control for the entire 90 minutes.

However, until yesterday, Chaminuka had not won a match since taking over the reins in June from Joseph ‘Shaba’ Takaringofa, who was caretaker coach at Buffaloes.

The match started at a slow pace with strikers from both teams taking turns to miss the target hence a goalless first half.

But the hosts came back after the breather playing a more purposeful game and their efforts were rewarded late in the 83rd minute when speedy forward Lloyd Katongomara’s clinical finish off Kudzai Mwaramba’s cross beat Flame Lily goalminder Prosper Chigumba all systems out.

Five minutes later, veteran Buffaloes’ striker Jacob Muzokomba put the game beyond the reach of their opponents when he got to the end of a beautiful through pass from Philip Thembani and fired home a hard and low shot that gave Chigumba no chance.

Chaminuka was satisfied with his team’s perfoamnce and expressed hope that the win could be a start of better things to come.

“Our greatest challenge of late was that we weren’t scoring goals and now that we’ve managed to score two I sincerely hope that this could be the start of better things from the team. While others could be thinking about relegation, I’m actually concerned about getting a respectable position at the end of the season,” said Chaminuka.

His opposite number, Backlyfield Chivenga blamed his team’s defeat on some schoolboy blunders by his players.

“We held our own in the first half and did well to get something out of this match but somehow we made some silly blunders and we were punished for that. There are still nine matches to go and we still have a healthy chance of escaping relegation,” said Chivenga.

Teams

Buffaloes: B Mwandimutsira (C Tandadzai 90th minute), P Chandisaita, G Mukahanana (K Mwaramba 78th minute), K Chigwida, V Makaha, S Nkata, P Matizanadzo, P Thembani, J Muzokomba, C Kawinga, F Banda (L Katongomara 57th minute):

Flame Lily: P Chigumba, G Phiri, B Chandisaita, J Mukondiwa, B Chayambuka, P Chiadawaya, E Madhananga, M Muponda (P Chinyama 65th minute), V Mukudo, M Demera, J Chivasa (W Muronda 80th minute):