CAPS United forward Ishmael Wadi scored one and assisted the other as the Harare giants showed their class to gun down battling Agama in this gripping Premiership Soccer League contest at Rufaro yesterday.

The Green Machine lived up to their billing after a sound pre-season in which they invested well and prepared as much for the season.
Teenage sensation Alleny Mukombedzi earned them the winning goal after coming off the bench just as Agama were fighting tooth and nail to squeeze a point after they had scored the equalising goal through Ralph Nyamupurika.

It was a good opening day for new coach Takesure Chiragwi who quickly endeared himself to Makepekepe fans at the sound of the final whistle.
“I think we played well because we didn’t know much about them.

“It was also difficult to plan because we didn’t know how they were going to play,” said Chiragwi.

“We didn’t know anything, but as we progressed with the game, we also started to understand how they played, their strength and everything.

“Then in the second half, we tried to make sure that we can also utilise our strength and also try to diffuse their strength.

“But it’s a very good quality team with players who are very intelligent. I think they’ve got two youngsters who are very good in terms of transition. “Their intelligence, football intelligence is very good.

“In transition from their defence to attack, they were using the direct ball. Then, in the first half, they were getting the second ball. We then realised that they were using the direct ball and getting the second ball.

“We tried to make sure that we also congest the midfield.

“You know it’s very difficult in terms of match fitness on the opening day but they coped up and they did well. The goal that we conceded wasn’t necessary, but that’s how it is. If you make a mistake, you concede.
“But the good thing, was the resilience from the guys, how we kept possession, that was marvellous. “That’s the reason why we got another goal. It was very good in terms of how we rotated the ball using the midfield until we got another opportunity to score.

“But we should have scored maybe three, four goals. Also, the goalkeeper (Wallace Magalane) was good today.”

Agama looked to be starting the match on the front foot but they couldn’t quite breach the CAPS United three-man defence.

It was at the other end though that action was intense with Malawian Chawanangwa Kaonga, Junior Bunjira, Wadi and Obriel Chirinda tapping around the ball with a lot of purpose.

And 12 minutes into the tie, Wadi nodded home to finish a good move started deep in midfield by Tanaka Shandirwa, perfected by Brett Amidu, then crossed by Bunjira.