By Takudzwa Madondo
CHISAMBA GROUND – Just when a frustrating afternoon looked destined to end in a goalless stalemate, Believe Dhlakama rose as the unlikely hero, slamming home an 88th-minute winner to hand Mutare City Rovers a dramatic 1–0 victory over Bikita Chida Athletic in a tense Pacific Storm Eastern Region Soccer League Match Day 2 clash today.
In a game defined by missed chances and defensive grit, it was the municipal side who stole the spoils at the death—sending home fans into raptures and leaving the visitors shell-shocked.
For large spells, Bikita Chida looked the more dangerous side, carving out the clearer opportunities only to be repeatedly undone by their own wastefulness in front of goal. The visitors dominated possession and enjoyed promising spells, yet the final touch—or composure—remained painfully absent.
Mutare City, by contrast, struggled to ignite their usual attacking flair on home turf. But they held firm at the back, absorbed wave after wave of pressure, and produced the one moment of cold-blooded efficiency that mattered most.
A visibly frustrated Bikita Chida head coach, Dzikamai Muvhimi, admitted his side had only themselves to blame.
“The boys played very well and created enough chances—more than enough,” Muvhimi said. “But we failed to capitalise, and that is the difference. It hurts because we deserved something from this game. That is football. Congratulations to Mutare City for taking their chance.”
On the other side, Mutare City Rovers coach Brian Mukundu praised his team’s resilience and growing sharpness in the final third.
“We didn’t play our best football—not even close—but we took the one clear chance we created,” Mukundu said. “We’ve been working hard on finishing, and today we saw small signs of progress. There’s still a long way to go, but this is a massive step.”
The home side endured long spells under the cosh but stayed disciplined defensively, ultimately producing a sucker punch that could define their early season momentum.
In other action, Buffaloes FC thumped FC Wangu Mazodze 2–1 at the Showgrounds to continue their strong start to the campaign.