Bantu Rovers 0 Black Rhinos (1) 1
By Thandiwe Moyo
BANTU Rovers’ return to the top flight league did not go according to plan as they lost to Black Rhinos in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer league match played at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
Brian Muzondiwa’s 18th minute strike was all visiting Black Rhinos needed to ensure they collected maximum points.
Rhinos coach Arthur Tutani was happy with the result.
“It was a good game. Bantu Rovers have a beautiful side but Black Rhinos collected the three points. Our strikers were wasteful we could have won by at least four goals. The most important thing is that we defended as a team. It is a bit too early to say what will happen in the league but we will keep collecting maximum points,” said Tutani.
Methembe Ndlovu, who took over as head coach when the team merged with Plumtree Chiefs, said Rhinos coach Tutani had a better game.
“I thought we played well even though our players did not connect well. We were out-played in the second half and we could not find the solution. We had no shots on target in the second half. We were out-coached by Tutani. We controlled the match in the first half but they took control of the second half.
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“It is a disappointing result. It is difficult to get a point on the first day but I do not think it will determine our performance throughout. The young players did okay,” he said.
Proud Zireni and Zephian Ngodzo, who played central defence had a tough time trying to contain the Black Rhinos players.
Eighteen minutes into the match, Muzondiwa won the tussle for ball possession against Zireni and tapped in a soft ball which beat goalkeeper Takunda Mutanga.
Bantu Rovers captain Nqobizitha Masuku had the opportunity to level the scores in the 27th minute but his shot from Lawson Nkomo’s pass was safely collected by goalkeeper Jonathan Zvaita.
Although they tried, Bantu Rovers who had Obadiah Tarumbwa in the midfield failed to find the net.
In the 68th minute, Mutanga was left exposed when Lot Chiwunga latched onto a service by his goalkeeper Zvaita. With Zireni and Ngodzo trailing behind, he chose to dilly-dally with the ball, leaving the Bantu side to recover.
