BY SPORTS REPORTER
TelOne ……………….0
ZPC Kariba……….. (1) 1
ZPC KARIBA continued with their good start to the season at Mandava Stadium, handing TelOne their first defeat of the season with a 1-0 win in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match yesterday.
Impressive midfielder Collen Mleya scored after 30 minutes to ensure that ZPC Kariba maintain their good run at Mandava, where they were the only team to collect maximum points against FC Platinum at Mandava in the past two seasons.
The opening minutes were rather cagey as both sides were cautious and slow to come out of their blocks.
It was at the half-hour mark that the match came to life with Mleya breaking the deadlock.
TelOne tried hard to come back into the match, but found ZPC Kariba well organised in defense.
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They had a goal disallowed on the stroke of half-time after veteran forward Jacob Muzokomba was adjudged to have scored from an offside position.
This was TelOne’s first time to concede after playing out a goalless draw against Herentals in the opening match followed by their first top-flight away win over to struggling Bulawayo Chiefs.
TelOne head coach Jairos Tapera conceded that they had lost to the better side on the day.
“It was a tight contest, but we tried our best. We are still learning and we are taking lessons from each game we play,” he said.
“Now we go back to the drawing board and hope for better strides on our next assignment.”
His counterpart Godfrey Tamirepi was modest in victory, urging his charges to continue improving.
“We are working, it’s an ongoing process. We are just hoping to improve by each game and also ensure that we get as many points as possible, especially in these opening games,” said Tamirepi.
“But this is certainly a boost in confidence for us. We hope to keep the momentum.”
Castle Lager Premier Soccer League results and fixtures
Yesterday: TelOne 0-1 ZPC Kariba, Harare City 3-1 Highlanders, Chicken Inn 2-0 Dynamos
Today: Hwange v Ngezi Platinum (Colliery), Herentals v Yadah (Rufaro), Triangle v Manica Diamonds (Gibbo)
Tomorrow: Mushowani Stars v FC Platinum (Rufaro)
Postponed: Black Rhinos v Bulawayo Chiefs, CAPS United v Chapungu.
