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Midlands Correspondent
Chapungu 3-0 ZPC Kariba
Black Rhinos   0 -1 FC Platinum
ZPC KARIBA’s 19-match unbeaten league run went up in smoke in spectacular fashion as they crumbled like a deck of cards when they were dismantled by a fired up Chapungu at Ascot Stadium yesterday.

The airmen got their goals through a brace by Brighton Mugoni and a Pardon Chinungwa own-goal.
Without their coach Saul Chaminuka who is attending a Caf A licence course in Harare, ZPC Kariba resembled a ship crew which has been deserted by its captain.

The league leaders failed to unlock the Chapungu rearguard marshalled by former Shabanie Mine defender, William Ngonya and was a far cry from a team which is in contention for honours.

On the other hand Chapungu, after a sluggish 10 minutes upped the tempo soon after three Air Force of Zimbabwe jets flew past the stadium in a diamond formation.

After the fly-past whether by design or default, the airmen soon sprang into life and knocked the ball around with aplomb.
The airmen’s first real chance came in the 21st minute when Charles Murisa beat his marker and unleashed a scorcher from inside the box and ZPC Kariba goalkeeper, Wilson Muchenje could only spill but there was no Chapungu player to follow up on the effort.

Eleven minutes later, Muchenje had to pick the ball from the back of the net after Victor Bangira made a solo run on the left flank from his half before whipping in a cross which was headed in by Mugoni and aided by a ZPC Kariba player into the nets.

Chapungu could have doubled their lead in the 35th minute but Bangira shot wide from inside the box after being set up by Mugoni.
In the second half, “Waru Waru” continued from where they left and were duly rewarded with a goal in the 56th minute when Murisa’s cross was directed into his own net by Chinungwa to give the airmen a two-goal cushion.

The goal spurred on the hosts to pump forward and in the 65th minute, Mugoni doused “Gwenya Rechamhembe” flames with another goal after being set up by Bangira.

After receiving the pass from Bangira, the Chapungu forward beat his marker and picked his spot before placing the ball beyond the reach of the ZPC Kariba goalie.

After the goal the Kariba-based outfit, tried to crawl back into the game but found the Chapungu defence uncompromising.
ZPC Kariba stand in coach, Tembo Chuma conceded defeat and said the result was a setback to the team’s title aspirations.

“We created our chances but we missed and Chapungu utilised their chances and it’s part of football. The loss is a setback to our quest for the title but we have to move on.

“We will talk to the players that it is not the end of the world after the loss. We just have to pick ourselves up and move on,” said Chuma.
Chapungu assistant coach, Clement Mugari said it was a great feeling to be the first team to halt ZPC Kariba’s fine run.

He said: “It feels great to beat them in the league because they have been unstoppable. However, it has become a norm for us to break teams’ records here at Ascot so we expected this result.”

Meanwhile, in another match played yesterday Black Rhinos coach Jostein Mathuthu-Mambo tasted his first defeat when Aubrey Chiwala’s second half strike handed FC Platinum victory in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Rimuka yesterday.

Chiwala came in the 59th minute for Ashley Mukwena and he became an instant hero for the platinum miners when he found a late winner in the 85th minute.

The substitute finished off a defence splitting pass from Quad Amin to settle matters.
It was Norman Mapeza’s second game in charge since replacing Lloyd Mutasa as FC Platinum coach and the former Warriors mentor was happy to maintain a 100 percent start to the job.

The game had been evenly balanced, with both sides missing chances along the way.
Mathuthu-Mambo said they still have more games to fight in their bid to escape relegation.

“I was impressed by the team’s performance although we have lost the game. It’s not the end of world as we have more games and chances to fight,” said Mathuthu-Mambo.

Mathuthu-Mambo lamented the missed chanced by his players while Mapeza was over the moon.
Mapeza’s first game yielded a 3-0 victory over Bantu Rovers in a Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final tie.

“The players are slowly adapting to my tactics and they played according to instructions. I am also happy with the resources at the club and there is a conducive working environment at FC Platinum,” said Mapeza.