SLOW, but sure.
That is how one can describe Caps United’s rise to sixth position after their first win away from home against Chiredzi FC at Chishamiso Stadium yesterday.
KENNETH NYANGANI in CHIREDZI
Chiredzi FC . . . . . . .0 Caps United . . . .(0)2
It does not matter that the Green Machine were playing a rock bottom side, what mattered was that they shook the monkey off their back to record three priceless points that saw them move into fifth position with 20 points from 12 matches.
They now lie two points behind leaders Hwange, How Mine and Dynamos and just one behind Highlanders.
Dominic Chungwa and Hardlife Zvirekwi scored the goals that made the difference against Chiredzi, yet to win at home, and that left them with six points from 12 matches and certainly heading back to Division One football.
Chiredzi coach Moses Chunga said his players lacked concentration because of sponsorship challenges bedevilling his side.
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“I am proud of the boys, but the only issue is that they are lacking concentration. Football is a mind game. If they go to work without pay what do you expect from them?” he said.
“They were not focusing on the game. The way we are missing chances is not good. The executive does not even know what the players are eating. I employed fish-mongers in the executive,” Chunga, who is a director in the club, said.
His counterpart Taurai Mangwiro said the overall performance was good.
“Overally, the performance was good. We came here knowing fully that we had to end a bad away record. We managed to contain them in the first half because we had been conceding early goals,” he said.
“We scored at a critical stage of the match and we killed the match and we are now hoping to continue with this form away from home.”
After a number of chances in the first half, Caps United were first off the blocks in stanza two with a well-orchestrated move that involved Chungwa and Zvirekwi, but Pevington Zimunya shot over the bar.
In the 59th minute, Chiredzi FC substitute Malvern Gaki who had came in for Trevor Ndlovu three minutes earlier switched the ball to Tapiwa Dephistara, but his resultant shot was parried back into play by Caps United goalkeeper Jorum Muchambo.
But it turned out to be a sweet home return for Chungwa who once played for the now defunct Hippo Valley in the Lowveld for three years, after beating an offside trap that saw him going alone on a solo run.
He was composed enough to slot home with a low shot far to the left of diving goalkeeper Steven Chimusoro.
Three minutes later, Zvirekwi slotted home a low drive that beat Chimusoro after a cross from substitute Tafadzwa Mahori.
