Ngezi Platinum.... (1)1
GreenFuel............ (0)0
A first half from Marvin Gaki was all Ngezi Platinum Stars needed to collect their first set of three points in an entertaining Castle Lager Premier Soccer League at Baobab Stadium yesterday.
Gaki rose the highest to head home the winner in the 16th minute from an Ashwin Karengesha corner kick.
It was not a very fluid performance by the 2023
champions but was enough to give them their first win of the season.
Ngezi Platinum have struggled to win a match in the first five matches of the season for the past two year and appear to have finally broken the jinx.
Coach Takesure Chiragwi was delighted with the win.
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"I think it was a crucial win for us because, you
know, I think we've changed things this season. For the past, I think, three seasons we've been struggling to get a win in our first five games. But I think it shows the guys now understand how it is and try to make sure that we break that jinx. It looks like it had become a culture for us, but it wasn't. So today, our second game, we managed to get three points," he said after the match.
Ngezi took an early through a Gaki thumping header in the 16th minute.
GreenFuel had their first sniff of goal halfway through the first half with Collins Dhuwa blazing his effort well over the bar from the edge of the box.
Talent Chamboko had a brilliant opportunity to double the scores late in the half but his short from edge of the box flew just wide after he was fed by Takunda Benhura.
Ngezi Platinum Stars finished the half the stronger of the two teams.
GreenFuel introduced Garikai Dematsika and Godknows Mutina for Ronaldo Chitiyo and Collins Dhuwa at the break as they began the second half with a bit more urgency.
But it was the hosts who came closest to scoring with substitute Tinotenda Ditima blazing over from inside the box around the hour mark.
Ditima failed to direct his header into goal from close range moments later as Ngezi Platinum looked dangerous each they went on attack.
GreenFuel were the better team in the second half but failed to create clear goalscoring chances.
GreenFuel coach Tawurayi Mangwiro was disappointed with his team's first half performance.
"It was a rather tepid first half in which we had too much struggle to get into our rhythm. The unfortunate part is we conceded during that early period, tried hard to regroup. We got better in the second half, though we were vulnerable to the counter attacks.
"I think in the second half we responded well, unlucky not to have gotten a goal. We struggled with the final pass in the attacking third but we got better after we made some changes. I thought the guys that came in gave good accounts of themselves. Tough luck to our travelling fans, we lost today, but we shouldn't despair," he said.
Teams
Ngezi Platinum Stars - D Murasiranwa, R
Hachiro, O Chirinda , N Gurende, T Chamboko (
M Mukumba 67'), T Benhura ( M Eddisone 55'),
F Madhanaga, Leslie Kashitigu, G Chirwa K
Chigwida 55'), A Karengesha (T Mavhudzi 80'),
Marvin Gaki ( T Ditima 55')
GreenFuel - A Ryners, T Pfende, E Chikwende, R Chinemo ( D Mapuwa 63'), C Mujuru, B Chikwenya (K Ngwende 76), M Mushonga, A Silla, C Dhuwa ( G Mutina 46'), R Chitiyo (
Ga
rikai Dematsika 46'), P Chikwende ( S Manyoni 76')
