Yadah win bottom-of-the-table battle

Sport
FOR Yadah FC gaffer Genesis Mangombe, it was the “genesis” of winning ways as his lads registered their first win of the season after defeating bottom-placed Bulawayo Chiefs in a five-goal thriller Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Luveve Stadium yesterday.

BY SINDISO DUBE in Bulawayo

Bulawayo Chiefs …… (1) 2 Yadah FC…………….(1) 3

FOR Yadah FC gaffer Genesis Mangombe, it was the “genesis” of winning ways as his lads registered their first win of the season after defeating bottom-placed Bulawayo Chiefs in a five-goal thriller Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Luveve Stadium yesterday.

The two teams went into the match in search of their first set of maximum points with Bulawayo Chiefs with no points in four games while Yadah had garnered two points having played five games.

Three goals from Morris Musiyakuvi, veteran striker Ralph Matema and Johannes Sibanda guaranteed Yadah their first victory over the struggling Bulawayo side, who earned themselves the “giant killers” tag after despatching highly-rated teams last year.

The visiting team took the lead through Musiyakuvi after a long pass from the back in the 22nd minute.

Three minutes later, veteran striker Matema, who was making a return to Bulawayo where he plied his trade with Highlanders, almost doubled the scoreline after a header at goal, but was denied by tight-marking from the Chiefs defence.

The Farai Tawachera coached side levelled the scores with Lawrence Mhlanga in the 38th minute giving the home fans hope of a victory.

Yadah’s Musiyakuvi could have extended his side’s lead, but only to be denied by the woodwork, leading the match into the breather at one-all draw.

A rejuvenated Bulawayo Chiefs came into the second half oozing with confidence and managed to get the lead from Malvin Mkolo five minutes into the second half.

It only took Matema six minutes to level terms, connecting a header from the corner kick. Boosted by the second goal, Yadah grabbed the winner after three minutes from full-time through Johannes Sibanda.

Mangombe described the win as a starting point of a good run of results for the club.

“For us, it’s a starting point for a good showing in the next games. This win comes as a morale booster to the players and also our members of the technical team. It’s been difficult to grab maximum points, but I am glad we managed to get them,” Mangombe said.

“It’s a good result and a boost head of our next match against Dynamos, we really needed this win to face the next fixtures motivated.” Tawachera blamed his defence for incompetence making schoolboy blunders.

“We played very well especially in the first half, but I think the boys lacked mental stength in the second half which led us to conceding soft goals in the second half. Those were soft goals, simple junior football mistakes. Hopefully we will refocus in our next encounter,” said Tawachera.