Black Mambas…(2) 3 Monomotapa…(0) 1
BY ALBERT MARUFU
BLACK Mambas eased their relegation worries after seeing off the challenge of Monomotapa in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Morris Deport yesterday.
Winger Nicholas Alifandika (34th minute), Innocent Nyoni (41st minute) and Last Chibwiro (91st minute) were on target, while Godknows Murwira pulled one back for Monomotapa.
Yesterday’s win saw Mambas taking their points tally to 35, moving one place up the ladder to position 11 with three games to go. The loss, however means that Monomotapa, the 2008 champions, remain static on position 14, four points behind 13th placed Black Rhinos, who are at home to Harare City in Kadoma today.
One could feel sorry for Monomotapa players who have not received a salary or winning bonus since the inception of the season and have to use their own means of transport to come to the stadium.
However, their coach Biggie Zuze refused to throw in the towel.
“This has been a very difficult season for us, but we are not going to throw in the towel yet. We tried to pick up the pieces, but it was just not our game today. It is also difficult to motivate players who are not receiving their salaries. Since the season started these young boys have not received any winning bonus at all,” he said.
Zuze also said his side had not been aware that they were going to play the match today.
“I was planning with Sunday [today] in mind, because that is when I thought the match would be played. It was only yesterday [Friday] when I learnt that the match would be played today [yesterday],” he said.
Black Mambas assistant coach Martin Bonongwe said though his side is not entirely safe from relegation, the win would ease their worries.
