BY HENRY MHARA
Herentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Yadah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 2
YADAH are back in the mix for a place in the quarterfinals of the Chibuku Super Cup after beating Herentals in a Group 1 encounter played at the National Sports Stadium yesterday.
Godknows Mangani rose from the bench to score twice as the Miracle Boys secured their first win of the tournament.
The victory took them to five points, on par with third-placed ZPC Kariba, who face CAPS United in another Group 1 clash at the same venue today.
So congested are the teams in the group that Yadah’s win saw them rising from the bottom of the pool to move just a point below second-placed CAPS United who, however, have a game in hand.
They will be hoping to win as many games as possible in the second round of the group matches and possibly snatch a quarterfinals slot.
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Two top-teams from the group qualify to the last eight of this year’s edition of the revamped Chibuku Super Cup competition.
Yadah head coach Genesis Mangombe was modest about the win, saying his focus was in the Premier Soccer League campaign which is expected to start next month.
“Winning is something that is good, so I’m happy for the three points. But I will not dwell much on the log standings because our main focus is in the league. But all the same, winning the matches is a plus for us. Our performance today showed that the boys are prepared for the PSL,” Mangombe said.
Herentals remain winless in the group with only two points from a possible 15. They will need to win all their five matches in the second round to have a chance of progressing to the quarterfinals.
Their coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva is a frustrated man.
“Our failure to score goals is quite disappointing and frustrating at the same time,” said Mutiwekuziva, who had his main striker Blessing Majarira missing a glorious chance in the first half.
Substitute Tafadzwa Chitukutuku also had a good chance on 90th minute when he was put through, but his weak shot went straight to the goalkeeper.
Charles Lumbilani came closest to find the back of the net for Herentals, but his shot from a freekick cannoned off the cross bar.
“Our chances (of progressing to the quarters) are slipping away as each game passes. We have to minimise mistakes because this is a cup competition,” Mutiwekuziva said.
His last statement might have been referring to the blunder by his goalkeeper Frank Kuchineyi, who spilled a harmless looking Issa Sadiki freekick on to the path of Mangani, who capitalised for his second goal of the day.
The veteran striker’s first goal was also a tap in from close range after he met a cross from Fortune Binzi who had done well to beat his marker on the left flank.
