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Innocent Kurira At Luveve Stadium

Bulawayo Chiefs 0-0 ZPC Kariba

BULAWAYO Chiefs’ relegation woes deepened after they failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage, settling for a disappointing 0-0 draw against 10-man ZPC Kariba at Luveve Stadium yesterday.

Despite ZPC Kariba goalkeeper Tatenda Munditi’s first-half red card for dissent, the hosts couldn’t find the breakthrough, squandering a golden opportunity to gain crucial points.

While ZPC Kariba are now safe from relagation, Chiefs no longer have fate in their own hands.
They just have to collect maximum points against Manica Diamonds in Mutare and hope results from other centres in the last round of fixtures favour them. Chiefs coach, Thulani Sibanda was dissapointed with the draw.

“We failed to capitalise on our numerical advantage. After the red card, the boys were now hurrying their efforts instead of using width. We had talked about this at half-time but we failed to execute our plan,” said Sibanda.

Bulalwayo Chiefs

ZPC Kariba coach Newton Chitewe felt his team did well to get a point playing with a man down.

“I believe our tactics after the send off were spot on. I thought given the magnitude of this game, the referee was a bit harsh to give the red card,” said Chitewe.

One would have thought the red card would alter the complexion of the match in favour of Chiefs but that was not be. Instead, the visitors looked more threatening than the hosts who seemed to hurry their efforts and got a disappointing point.

The two teams were evenly matched early on, but clear-cut scoring opportunities were scarce, with neither side able to gain a significant advantage.

The midfield battle was intense, with both teams cancelling each other out, leaving the goalkeepers largely untested. The hosts were the first to gain momentum, with Nkosilathi Ncube and Reason Sibanda spearheading a promising counter-attack in the 28th minute.

However, their prolonged exchange allowed ZPC Kariba’s defence to recover, and Sibanda’s eventual shot was expertly saved by goalkeeper Munditi.

Bulalwayo Chiefs

Sibanda had another opportunity in the 35th minute, but Munditi once again denied him with a crucial save.
A minute later, Leroy Murape squandered a golden chance for the visitors, firing over the bar from a prime position inside the box.

Despite these close calls, ZPC Kariba’s resilience kept Bulawayo Chiefs at bay. In the second-half, Bulawayo Chiefs goalminder Prosper Matutu made a crucial point blank save to deny Fanuel Shoko from close range.

Bulalwayo Chiefs

The visitors again came close to opening the scoring through Stanley Ngala who hit the cross bar off a Shoko cross on the left. In the end, nothing could separate the two teams.

Teams
Bulawayo Chiefs
Prosper Matutu, Ciphas Musikavanhu, Leroy Ndlovu, Emmanuel Chikwende (Tanya Mabhena 73 minutes), Nkosilathi Ncube (Benjamin Addotey 81 minutes), Lucky Ndlela, Panashe Shoko, Godfrey Muchenje, Jameson Masaza, Robert Kwaramba, Reason Sibanda

ZPC Kariba
Tatenda Munditi (red card), Boid Mutukure, Kuzivaishe Madima, Nyasha Gurende, Collen Muleya, Kudzanai Dzingai, Tellmore Pio (Samuel Makawa 87 minutes), Fanuel Shoko, Leroy Murape (Michael Kubvedzi 45 minutes) , Stanley Ngala (Charles Munyanyi (73 minutes), Munashe Gavaza — @innocentskizoe