By Darlington Mutsvairi
CAPS United…..(0) 2 vs Yadah FC………..(2) 2
In their season opener in the Chibiku Super Cup Group 1, which marked the return of football in Zimbabwe after more than a year of absence, Caps United FC yesterday came from two nil down to share the spoils with Yadah FC at the National Sports Stadium in a two all draw.
New boy, Ishmael Wadi was the toast for Makepekepe, scoring a brace in the second half for the Harare giants to salvage a draw against the anointing water boys.
Yadah FC took the lead in the 17th minute through unmarked winger Kafelapanjila Prosper who volleyed into an empty net as the Caps goal minder, Mateyaunga Tonderai had already been beaten by a high cut in from the right.
The Caps United defence was for the second time breached by the Waterfalls-based side who doubled their lead at the stroke of half time through Tino Mutyembizi leaving the few spectators in the stadium with questions about the porous Caps’ back four.
In the first 45 minutes Yadah were on top of the situation as they gave more trouble to the green army rear guard through their well combined forward trio of Kafelapanjila, Ali Sadiki and Fortune Bhinzi.
The trio seemed to enjoy facing the jittery CAPS United defence. The Green machine had an injury induced substitution when Tafadzwa Jaravani came in for right-back Valentine Musarurwa who had picked an injury when he collided with Yadah goalie Panashe Nyabunga in the early minutes of the match. This affected coach, Darlington Dodo’s game plan.
“I really wanted him (Valentine Musarurwa) because he overlaps on the right side and that is what l wanted, but it’s unfortunate he picked a knock in the early minutes which affected how l wanted us to play, had he been available, we could have been talking of a different result,” said Dodo.
Ronald Chitiyo and Richard Hachiro seemed not to be combining well in the middle of the park as they failed to stamp their authority resulting in Yadah taking advantage of that, taking possession in midfield, going forward with the ball.
CAPS came a better and more organised side after the break with Wadi reducing the deficit through a fine header connecting to a well taken cross by Pheneas Bhamusi in the 47th minute.
Wadi had a glorious chance soon after his first goal but failed to convert. However, in the 67th minute he was on target again, swiftly beating the Yadah goalkeeper before tapping the ball into an empty net.
In the other Chibuku Super Cup fixtures across the country, Bulawayo City lost by two goals to nil against Chicken Inn at Boubarfields while at Mandava, debutants Whawha FC were massacred six goals to nil by reigning league champions, FC Platinum.
In Mutare it was army side Black Rhinos who walked away victors after walloping new boys, Tenax FC by four goals to one.
