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YOUNG Kelvin Thembani’s fifth minute strike was all that Buffaloes needed to beat Quelaton and secure the all important three points in this exciting Castle Lager Premiership soccer encounter at Sakubva yesterday.

Yesterday’s defeat left the former Premiership coach of the year, Philani “Beefy” Ncube, still hunting for his maiden triumph after suffering another defeat at the hands of Hardbody in his first day in office last weekend.

Although the home team dominated proceedings from the onset and created a number of clearcut scoring chances, they lacked precision in front of goal.

However, it was the man of the match, the exciting 17-year-old Thembani who provided the only goal of the match with a breathtaking volley which came only five minutes into the match.

So cleverly executed was Thembani’s strike that Quelaton goalkeeper Freedom Magaba was left equally a spectator just as the hundreds of Mutare soccer fans.

Buffaloes coach Saul Chaminuka, who bemoaned his team’s below average performance at home, was naturally a relieved man after the match.

“At the end of the day, I think it is the three points that matter. I am obviously happy that we managed to win this match. However, I am still worried about  our failure to play our usual game when we are at home.

Maybe it is because of the pressure of playing before the home crowd but I am generally not happy with the way we play at home,” he said.

His opposite number, Ncube said time is not on their side and really need to start picking up points.

“A schoolboy blunder by the goalkeeper cost us in this match but generally I am happy with the performance of the team. It is sad that we continue losing points as we are getting into the second half of the season.

“To be honest, time is not on our side. I think we really need to start picking up points to ensure that we survive relegation,” he said.