Ngezi Platinum Stars . . . . (1) 1 Pamplemousse SC . . . . . . (0) 0
(Ngezi Platinum won 2-1 on aggregate to progress to the first round)
ZIMBABWE’S representative in the CAF Confederation Cup Ngezi Platinum Stars’ football fairytale continued when they claimed their first-ever scalp on the African safari after dumping Mauritian side Pamplemousse SC out of the competition at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
A first half Terrence Dzvukamanja goal in the preliminary round second leg fixture was enough to settle the affair after the teams drew one-all in St. Louis last week.
The result means that the Tonderai Ndiraya-coached team has won the two legged fixture 2-1 on aggregate and will now face Recreativo do Libolo of Angola in the first round next month.
Ndiraya — whose team completely dominated the match but fluffed a myriad of chances — was ecstatic that his team progressed to the next stage.
“It’s an amazing feeling. This is what we wanted from the onset and now that we have qualified, what is important is to focus on the next game ahead, which is not an easy game,” he said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
However, he was not pleased by the overall performance of the team.
“It wasn’t a nice win, but a win is a win. We are happy to take that, there wasn’t fluidity, but what’s important is that we won. We are through to the next round of the competition and what’s left is for us to work on our weakness, especially the fitness of the boys and take it from there,” Ndiraya said.
The Mhondoro-based side had to play their match in Harare after their homeground, the Boabab Stadium, was deemed unfit for the CAF Confederations Cup fixture.
Ngezi, playing a 3-4-3 formation dominated the early exchanges and could have nosed ahead within five minutes but defender Byron Madzokere’s turn and shoot from the edge of the box sailed over.
After several near misses, the all-important goal finally came in the 20th minute when Godknows Murwira’s cross found out Dzvukamanja in the box.
Dzvukamanja controlled the ball and curled it into the top corner, giving goalkeeper Jean Louis Kevin no chance.
The visitors’ first real chance came eight minutes before the break when Kengy Saramautif was allowed a clean header ,but his effort sailed over.
Exciting midfielder Kevin Perticots almost restored parity close to stoppage time but his freekick was brilliantly tipped over by Nelson Chadya.
Ngezi continued to miss a glut of chances in the second half.
Captain Chakoroma was left in disbelief when his stinging shot from inside the box was kept out by Louis Kevin.
Dzvukamanja had a chance for a brace, but his overhead kick missed the left upright by a whisker in the 89th minute.
Pamplemousse coach Jean Richard Francois felt the hosts were physically superior in the match.
“We played good football, but physically, we were not good. You saw that we had some chances, but we didn’t score, but that’s football. Ngezi is a good team, they played good football, they took their chance,” he said.
Teams:
Ngezi Platinum Stars — N. Chadya. Jaure, B. Madzokere, D. Mukandi, X. Moyo, L. Chakoroma (E. Mhungu 80’), Q. Amin, G. Murwira, D. Teguru( T. Mabvura 86’), T. Dzvukamanja, K. Bulaji ( MaClive Phiri 38’)
Pamplemousse SC — J. Louis Kevin, W. St. Martin, W. Seraphin, J. Jeff, K. Agath, B. Collin (M. Jocelyn 76), Holas, K. Perticots (A. Fabrice 84’) , K. Saramautif (Sochalingnum 71’), F. Raza, B. Zizi
