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Saul Chaminuka

Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane—
Border Strikers 0-1 Mutare City Rovers
MUTARE City Rovers collected their first set of points in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League at Maglas Stadium in Zvishavane yesterday against fellow debutants Border Strikers. After the final whistle, the Mutare City Rovers’ players celebrated as if they had won the league. Sam Msimbo scored the solitary goal in the 82nd minute to hand a 10-man Border Strikers’ outfit their fourth straight defeat of the season.

Border Strikers remain the only team in the league that has not scored a goal.

Substitute Caleb Masocha won possession on the right side and shrugged off the challenge of Strikers’ captain Michael Variso before crossing the ball to Renias Machawira, who could have scored, but chose to give the responsibility to the unmarked Msimbo, whose shot whistled past the otherwise impressive Shepard Kaurombo in goals for Strikers.

“I dedicate the goal to my five-year-old daughter Mitchelle. I’m excited that we finally found the winning formula today and I scored my first goal of the season. I’m going to keep on scoring and fans in Mutare should brace for more goals,” said Msimbo, a former Hippo Valley and Chiredzi United player.

Strikers, who play their home games at Maglas while Dulibadzimu Stadium in Beitbridge is being spruced up to meet PSL standards, fielded a disjointed side after some of their senior players refused to travel to Zvishavane without being paid their outstanding wages and sign-on fees.

The players are reportedly owed $500 each in sign-on fees and three months’ wages of $200 per month.

Border Strikers were reduced to 10 men in the 31st minute after referee Makonese Masakadza sent off Prince Sibanda for a crude tackle on Msimbo.

Strikers got a chance to salvage a point in the first minute of the referee’s optional time when substitute David Tito unleashed a volley that was, however, tipped over for a corner by Rovers’ goalkeeper Phillip Nhete. Rovers’ coach Taku Shariwa was on cloud nine after the final whistle.

“It’s very exciting to get maximum points in your second game in charge, especially against Central Region champions. I’m also very happy that for the first time we didn’t concede (a goal) and that my team was resilient. We kept on believing and it paid dividends and to us it’s a morale booster,” said Shariwa.

His Strikers’ counterpart Saul Chaminuka (pictured right) wore a brave face and said he hoped his team will start playing well.

“I had players who’ve never kicked a ball in the Premiership. We could’ve won if I had my players and if you’re disjointed there is nothing to expect. We’ve lost and that’s the game of football. “We’ve problems in the camp and I just hope that my bosses will sort out the problems as soon as possible,” said Chaminuka.

Teams
Border Strikers: S Kaurimbo, S Mazumba, M Mwenya, G Mukambi, M Variso, M Mugadzaneta, L Genti, M Chirape (I Chaminuka 75th), P Sibanda, T Mukambi (D Tito 89th), T Kalunga

Mutare City Rovers: P Nhete, C Muzavazi, A Nyakabawao, E Sinaputa, W Mapfumo, B Mukwena, D Duri, S Msimbo, T Chabwana (K Gurure 78th), H Mukukutu, S Sibanda (C Masocha 52nd)