HARARE CITY . . . . . . . . (0) 0 YADAH FC .. . . . . . . . . . (0) 0
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League new boys Yadah FC impressed in their first match in the top-flight league after battling to a deserved draw against Harare City at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
by munyaradzi madzokere
While many people think the team owned by Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries founder Walter Magaya need divine intervention to compete in the top-flight league, they seemed up for the task against the seasoned campaigners, except on one instance – when defender Brian Chikwenya’s headed back pass beat his own goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube and miraculously cannoned off the cross bar before bouncing back into play halfway through the first half.
Other than that, they matched Mike Madzivanyika’s Sunshine City Boys pound for pound.
“It was a fair result, but we didn’t play the way we thought we should do. After this game, I think the boys have realised that they can compete against any other team because Harare City is a seasoned team and we are only coming into the league today,” Yadah coach Jairos Tapera said after the match.
Yadah, fielding a largely inexperienced side, began the match full of confidence with exciting forward Leeroy Mavhunga running rings in the Harare City defence.
It was no surprise when Morris Musikuvi’s header flew a few inches wide of Max Nyamupanedengu’s goal early in the match. Harare City also had a chance when Martin Vengesai dragged his effort from angle in the penalty box.
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Mavhunga rode a cluster of tackles, but his curling effort was easily dealt with by Nyamupanedengu.
The Sunshine City boys dominated the second half, but there were real chances to write home about after the encounter ended in a moral-boosting stalemate for the new boys.
“It was our first competitive game, but I am excited we were in control of the game, especially in the second half after we made some changes. There is still a lot of work to be done, but I think we will get better with each game,” Madzivanyika said in the post-match interview.
Teams:
Harare City: M Nyamupanedengu, T Chimwemwe, P Mpelelele, J Tigere, R Uchena, E Madhanhanga, J Jam, P Kabwe (T Tumba 89′), M Vengesai ( W Muvirimi 55′), M Gaki, T Balakasi (G Kufandada 89′)
Yadah FC: T Dube, B Chikwenya, J Dzingai, N Dongo, B Mapfumo, W Kamudyariwa, W Svanhu, L Mavhunga (M Meleka78′), M Musiyakuvi (L Murape 55’), J Sibanda ( L Chibwiro 89) W Kalongonda
