GWERU - Exciting winger Rodwell Mhlanga scored a memorable brace to propel Chapungu to a comfortable 3-0 win over poor travellers and troubled CAPS United at Ascot Stadium yesterday.
Star midfielder Hardlife Zvirekwi pulled out of the match day squad ahead of the team’s departure from Harare yesterday morning in protest over unpaid salaries and bonuses.
The rest of Zvirekwi’s teammates went on to fulfil the fixture but the Makepekepe players looked uninterested as they put in a pathetic performance against the air force side.
Even after the match, Makepekepe coach Taurai Mangwiro painted a bad picture of the situation in the former champions’ camp.
"It’s not my duty to complain over these issues after a defeat but at times it’s difficult to motivate players who are hungry,” said Mangwiro.
“Hardlife pulled out on the last minute because of frustration. I can’t talk much about those things.
“We started slowly and let in a quick goal. We tried to come back but the second goal extinguished any hopes of a comeback."
Makepekepe have already lost all three matches they have played outside Harare and the trend continued yesterday.
Not even the juju sprinkled on the Chapungu goal line by CAPS marshals before the start of the match could stop the former champions from succumbing to their fourth defeat on the road.
The home side ran riot from the start of the match and they were duly rewarded in the third minute when Mhlanga headed in a cross from Charles Mativenga.
There was nothing the United goalkeeper Jorum Muchambo could do to stop Mhlanga’s header from going in.
Chapungu, who were thriving on the speed and sheer power of their wingers Mhlanga and Gift Phiri, could have scored at least two more goals in the first half but were let down by poor finishing from Calisto Maheya.
The striker squandered a number of good chances to increase the lead before the halftime break to give CAPS some hope of coming back in the second half.
In one rare moment when the visitors attacked, CAPS had the ball in the back of the net after 27 minutes but referee Philani Ncube ruled out Dominic Chungwa’s effort for offside.
In the second half, Makepekepe were a much better side knocking the ball around with more purpose but found the Chapungu central defensive pairing of captain Collen Kwaramba and Blessed Mbavarira unyielding.
With the visitors throwing every men forward in search of an equaliser, they were caught on the break when Chapungu won possession on the right with Farai Manase, who released a low cross for Mhlanga.
The winger completed his brace with an easy tap for his second goal in the 68th minute after the CAPS defence had been left exposed.
From there on, the match swung in the air force side’s favour as the second goal broke any hopes of a comeback by the visitors.
Phiri made sure of the three points for the home side when he fired in a brilliant shot seven minutes from time.
The home side again capitalised on some sloppy defending from the visitors as CASP captain Tapiwa Khumbuyani lost unnecessarily.
Chapungu coach John Nyikadzino was pleased with another giant killing act after having claimed the scalp of Dynamos earlier this season.
“We were well prepared for them. Against big teams we play well and it was another good showing today. I am pleased with the way we played and it’s a good morale booster after so many draws.”