By Flata Kavinga
Hardrock FC climbed to the top of the Premier Soccer League standings after a 2-0 victory over visiting Bulawayo Chiefs at Chahwanda Stadium this afternoon (Sunday) taking advantage of Scotland FC’s defeat to ZPC Kariba.
Goals from Washington Navaya and Melisa Dhlamini secured the crucial victory for Hardrock, who extended their winning streak to seven consecutive league matches with only four games remaining this season.
Scotland surrendered top spot after suffering a 1-0 defeat to ZPC Kariba, opening the door for Hardrock to move to the summit as the title race enters its decisive stage.
Speaking after the match, Hardrock coach Kelvin Kaindu praised his players for responding positively to their disappointing performance last weekend, saying the victory was vital to their late-season push.
“It’s a good response after a disappointing weekend that we had. We responded very well by picking up a very, very important win,” said Kaindu.
He acknowledged that Bulawayo Chiefs had presented a difficult challenge, describing the visitors as a tactically organised side that made life difficult for his team in the first half.
Kaindu, however, said Hardrock’s breakthrough after the break changed the complexion of the match, allowing his charges to find more space and add a second goal.
With the championship race reaching its climax, the Hardrock coach emphasised the importance of maintaining consistency rather than allowing the pressure of leading the standings to affect his players.
“This is the seventh game that we are winning in a row. We haven’t drawn. We keep on picking points at a very, very crucial time,” he said.
“The league is about to end with four games to play. Every point that we get is a boost for the team.”
Despite moving to the top of the table, Kaindu remained cautious about his team’s title prospects, insisting that their primary objective at the start of the campaign had been to remain in the top-flight league.
“Our objective was to be consistent and stay in the league. Anything that will come ahead of us is a bonus,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bulawayo Chiefs coach John Nyikadzino conceded that Hardrock had executed a better game plan, particularly in the second half when the hosts introduced two substitutes who added mobility to their attack.
Nyikadzino said his team had competed well in the opening half but struggled to maintain its effectiveness after the break, ultimately losing valuable points at a crucial stage of the campaign.
“I would say Hardrock had a better game plan, especially after introducing those two subs who were highly mobile. They were playing better than us in the second half,” he said.
The Bulawayo Chiefs coach said his team had hoped to collect points from the encounter but would now turn its attention to the next match.
“We really wanted to get out of this match with something. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get what we wanted. It’s now water under the bridge. We prepare for the next game,” said Nyikadzino, who congratulated Hardrock on the victory.
