KWEKWE UNITED................. (0)1
NGEZI PLATINUM STARS..... (1)1
KWEKWE United put up a decent performance to hold former PSL Champions Ngezi Platinum Stars in an exciting season opening match that ended 1-1 at Bata Stadium.
Masimba Mambare and Ashin Karengesha were on target for Kwekwe United and Ngezi Platinum Stars respectively.
Ngezi Platinum Stars started with two newbies Ashin Karengesha and Darlington Murasiranwa, making their debut.
Kwekwe on the other hand, has a significantly changed team from what they had in the Central Region Soccer League. Allen Gahadzikwa, Hilary Bakacheza and former Soccer star Dennis Daudaheadline their starting team.
However, they were not convincing in the opening exchanges and were punished after nine minutes by debutant Karengesha who poked the ball home from a defense splitting pass from Qadr Amini.
Kwekwe went on to spend the entirety of the first half defending, with Takunda Benhura giving Dauda problems with his pace.
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They needed the introduction of Mambare in the 46th minute to start believing in themselves.
Mambare breathed life with some promising forays before equalising with a thumping header from inside the box.
The veteran attacker nodded the ball home from a curling cross that was whipped into the box by Gahadzikwa. The goal all but infused a lot of energy in the Kwekwe based side, seizing the momentum in search of another goal.
After the match Kwekwe United head coach Saul Chaminuka said: "It's a game and a good result, we could have won, but we could not bury the chances we got. We looked jittery and it affected us in the first half.
"The second half was better and we couldn’t score and we hope this will be the same approach we will approach in our game against Highlanders."
His counterpart Takesure Chiragwi was happy with the draw as they hope to upscale their performance going forward.
"I am happy that we managed to get a point, but I felt we could have scored more goals. Our players are still rusty but as the season progresses I am sure we will do better.
"We have to work on a few things and at the moment, including the goals. I am happy that our youngsters have shown the zeal and energy to be at this level," Chiragwi said.
TEAMS
KWEKWE UNITED: E Nechiware, A Taruvinga, L Saungweme, D Dauda, S Chaminuka Jr, E Mutimbanyoka, T January, H Bakacheza, A Gahadzikwa, R Muchara(M Mambare 46'l, A Murimba
NGEZI PLATINUM STARS: D Murasiranwa, P Moyo, L Kashitigu, B Mashonganyika, M Mukumba, R Hachiro, Q Amini(M Gaki 46'l, T Chamboko(T Mavhudzi 74') , A Karengesha(TDitima 86'), O Chirinda, T Benhura( Ngwena 63)
Yesterday's Results
Green Fuel 1 - 1 Caps United
Simba Bhora 0 - 0 FC Platinum
Herentals College 2 - 1 TelOne FC
Manica Diamonds 1 - 0 Yadah FC
Chicken Inn 0 - 0 Bikita Minerals
Kwekwe United 1 - 1 Ngezi Platinum
