Despite a stern warning at the end of last season by the club’s team Director, Base Commander Elisha Masakadza for a dismal start to last season which cost the Army side a top 8 finish in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, Chapungu FC are once again finding themselves in the relegation zone nine games into the 2018 season.
By Delicious Mathuthu
Having lost 19 points so far with 5 losses and two draws, Chapungu have managed to salvage 6 points from two victories and two from the draws summing up to 8 points, just a point ahead of last year’s total at the same stage of the league with one victory and four draws.
Last year during Chapungu’s end of season award ceremony Base Commander Masakadza was not pleased with the team’s on and off performance; urging the club to get it right from the start.
“Last season (2016) we survived by a whisker and this year (2017) it was characterized by ups and downs. We could have been number six or seven.
“We lost track in the very first eight games of the (2017) season and if we learn from our past mistakes and start picking points from the word go, we can finish as one of the top teams in league,” Director Masakadza had said.
The advice however seems to have fallen on deaf ears as the club is on the same path as last season which some staunch Waru Waru supporters warn that the army side should be vigilant as it has dropped to the relegation zone.
Chapungu currently seats on 15th position, the lowest of the four teams representing the Province with Shabanie on 14th, new boys Nichrut at 11 and FC Platinum 2nd.
Meanwhile, Waru Waru as Chapungu is known by its fans, were handed their 5th defeat against struggling giants Dynamos FC in their backyard at Ascot stadium on Wednesday with a 2-1 loss to the Glamour Boys.
A 11th minute goal by Kudakwashe Kumwala put Dynamos ahead as Chapungu struggled to contain the visitors who could have easily gotten more goals was is not for several miscued chances.
In the 34th minute Quality Kangadzi was on the scoreboard for Dynamos as he doubled the lead for the Harare side.
Chapungu were not to be outdone going into the breather trailing by two goals as they came into the second half with more aggression but the goals were not coming.
WaruWaru’s Phillip Marufu managed to salvage Chapungu’s pride just a minute into added time in the 91st minute with a goal for the home side but it was too late for a positive result for the derby.
Chapungu coach Tendai Chikuni said they did everything possible but it was not their day but citing match officiating as contributing to the losses.
“I don’t want to talk much about the first half but we came back in the second half to regroup but it was unfortunate it was too late.
“We did everything possible but the unfortunate thing is that somehow along the way we may end up getting these results because of what we see in terms of officiating,” Chikuni said.
He said tactical changes in the second half stabilized the game which resulted in the consolation goal and the two goals by Dynamos were a give away yet they worked hard for theirs.
Dynamos gaffer Lloyd Mutasa bemoaned several missed chances by his boys.
“We created quite a number of chances and from those chances we only managed to score two but it were good enough for us to take the three points; We are happy with the three points that we have collected,” Mutasa said.
