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Ellina Mhlanga, Harare Bureau
Harare City 0 – 1 Black Rhinos

BARELY a week after winning the Chibuku Super Cup Harare City remained staring the prospects of representing Zimbabwe in the Confederation Cup from Division One after they fell to fellow relegation candidates Black Rhinos at Rufaro yesterday.

The Sunshine Boys came into yesterday’s game needing a win to keep their hopes alive of surviving relegation.

They had also hoped to build on their convincing 3-1 victory over How Mine in the Chibuku Super Cup last Saturday but they could not maintain the momentum.  Both teams created several chances especially in the second half but it was Rhinos who finally got it right in the 62nd minute when Cliff Chitsamba’s effort found the back of the net.

Chitsamba’s well-connected shot from a corner kick by defender Jameson Mukombwe beat Harare City’s goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupanedengu, who came in as a substitute for Tatenda Munditi, who made an early exit after picking an injury just 23minutes into the game.

The Chibuku Super Cup champions’ coach Philani Ncube conceded they now have a tough task as they need to pick points in their remaining two assignments.

Ncube, however, said they not throwing in the towel before those two remaining games.

“We are going back to the drawing board and try and rectify where we went wrong. But well one thing for sure the game against How Mine, it takes a lot of energy as far as players are concerned.

“We will fight until the end. We still have got two games to play…we have no choice now we need to put our act together and get enough rest and go and fight.

“We go and get a point in Hwange and then we make sure we beat How Mine at home, we are home and dry. It is unfortunate in situations like this it’s the coach’s head but well I am used, I will never go under pressure it is one of the results as far as football is concerned,” said Ncube.

Yesterday’s defeat saw them going one place down to 14th place while Shabanie Mine took a giant step out of the relegation zone after dismissing Hwange 1-0.

The Harare City coach said they need to remain focused and positive ahead of their remaining games.

““At the present moment we need to remain focused, we need to remain positive.

“The pressure is always there, even when you are winning, even those that are chasing the championship they have pressure. You cannot go and play football without pressure, but definitely our pressure it’s really a mountain.

“But well I cannot show my pressure to the boys, the moment that I show them that I am under pressure then definitely they will crumble and collapse so I have to remind them, reassure them that there is still life after losing to Rhinos,” said Ncube.

Harare City could have at least walked away with a point as they created some chances but failed to convert with Edwin Madhanhanga’s effort from a free-kick saved just before the break.

Tatenda Tumba also tried his luck when he came in for Learnmore Muyambo in the 75minute but the Black Rhinos’ defence was up to the task.

While the Sunshine Boys were left ruing the chances they missed, Black Rhinos coach Stanford Mtizwa was a happy man after yesterday’s victory.

“I am happy with my defence, in fact I am happy with the whole team especially the one who scored Cliff Chitsamba because we have been working on those set pieces really, connecting those loose balls and I am happy that he did exactly what we have been doing at training.

“We are going to survive, now I am happy that we are almost safe, away from danger. I hope we will do the same in the next encounter,” said Mtizwa.

The match was, however not short of drama as a toddler somehow found his way from the terraces and ran onto the pitch towards the end of the game before he was whisked away.

Teams
Harare City: T. Munditi (Maxwell Nyamupanedengu 23 minutes), T. Samanja, J. Tigere, M. Vengesai, L. Muyambo (T. Tumba 75 minutes), R. Uchena, E. Madhanhanga, W. Manondo, T. Chimwemwe, W. Muvirimi, P. Kabwe (T. Balakasi 65 minutes).

Black Rhinos: H. Rusawo, F. Banda, S. Jimu, S. Linyama, B. Homora, J. Mukombwe (B. Marere 90 minutes), M. Mine (W. Kapinda 68 minutes), D. Mudadi, M. Kureva, C. Chitsamba,  L. Chiwunga.