Zimbabwe: What I told Caps United match-winner Chintuli – Bakala

Zimbabwe’s Caps United coach Ian Bakala has revealed how he inspired striker Nyasha Chintuli to score in the 1-0 victory over Highlanders FC on Sunday.

The striker made the difference when he scored in the 66th minute of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match. He made a run in between defenders to fire the ball into the roof of the net and torch celebrations at Rufaro Stadium.

In a post-match interview, Bakala told Herald newspaper of Zimbabwe that he had a word with the forward at the half-time break.

“At half-time I asked him, “my friend, when are you going to make the team win?” And he promised me that coach today I’m going to make the team win, and he did, which is good for the team and I’m very happy with the whole team,” the Zambian is quoted as saying.

The Green Machine, as Caps are also called, stay in 10th place at par on 28 points with the ninth-positioned Highlanders. Both teams are 12 points behind leaders Simba Bhora FC who drew 1-1 away to Manica Diamonds also on Sunday.

Bhora FC coach, Joel Luphahla, has since talked about the effects of fixtures’ congestion after his team dropped points once again on Sunday. The result came after a midweek 2-0 loss to TelOne FC.

Despite losing four points from a possible six in back-back-games, Luphahla chose to look at the reality with the fixtures, saying it was not easy for teams to play three games inside a week.

“We are happy to take a point away [from home],” the coach said.

“Travelling is never easy. All teams playing three games in seven days is always difficult. We needed to have character, but I cannot blame my players. Manica was better. They wanted it more. We conceded something that we should have avoided but it is a point away.”

Bhora are two points ahead of MWOS FC, who too, drew 1-1 with Herentals FC. Third-placed Platinum FC registered a 1-0 win over Green Fuel on Saturday.