Black Rhinos . . . . . .(0) 0 Black Mambas . . . . (0) 0 EPHRAIM SHOKO OWN CORRESPONDENT
THE battle for survival between Black Rhinos and Black Mambas failed to produce any goals as the two teams shared the spoils in a tightly contested Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Rimuka Stadium in Kadoma yesterday.
The result did not do much to change the two teams’ fortunes on the log as Rhinos remain fourth from the bottom with 23 points while Mambas are on 11th position with 27 points.
Rhinos coach Arthur Tutani, whose side has not lost a match nor conceded a goal at Rimuka since relocation from Harare, conceded that his side played second fiddle to the visitors and was grateful for the single point gained.
“Mambas came prepared and enjoyed a fair share of possession in the first half. We, however, managed to come back in the later stages of the second half, but unfortunately we failed to score.
“To us it is a point gained rather than two lost and we are now focusing on the next game,” he said.
Mambas assistant coach Martin Bonongwe bemoaned his team’s missed chances created after dominating proceedings for the large part of the game.
“We played well, but we were unfortunate not to come out with a score. I think we had the match in our hands and we only failed to win because we lacked precision upfront. We are going back to the drawing board and we will work on our finishing as we prepare for our next match.”
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A shot from Tsepo Ranthokoane in the 43rd minute was the highlight of the first half for Mambas. It drew a top drawer save from Herbert Rusawo, the Rhinos goalkeeper.
Four minutes after the breather Joseph Mutambiramwa forced Rusawo to tip over a shot from the edge of the box.
Phillip Marufu was taken out for the soldiers in the 57th minute for Wonder Kapinda and that change breathed life into the home side attack as they started taking the game to the visitors, but to no avail.
Rhinos would have Lot Chiunga to blame for the draw as the striker failed to beat Tonderai Mateyaunga in goal for Mambas, in a face-to-face situation in the 82nd minute after he was set up by Brighton Mugoni.
Chiunga again let Rhinos down in the 89th minute when he skied his effort from inside the box following a clever one-two with Trust Machacha.
