Payserv (2)2
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (1) 2
Although a win continued to elude them, Payserv (the home team) proved that they have made great strides in their game when they held the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to a 2-2 draw in an entertaining Week 16 Financial Services Soccer League (FSSL) fixture pitting the bottom two teams. The match was played at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Sports Club on Saturday, 30 September 2017.
In a match they believed they could win, Payserv – providers of payment services to the financial sector – went to the oranges leading 2-1 but “The Regulators” had other ideas and equalised deep in the second half. The Payserv team, which is playing in its first FSSL season and is currently co-coached by Marovu and Makunde, had surged ahead through goals by Dennis Dube and Ablemen Mhlanga. RBZ, which was always threatening when going forward, replied through a brace by Tanaka Mukura. For one of the goals, Gift “Gulas” Guramatunhu had hit the bar with a blistering free kick which was then headed home to even the match .
Payserv team captain Kevin Kachidza attributed the team’s massive improvement to consistent training and the renewed commitment of players. “Early defeats such as the 22-0 loss to FBC were demoralising and energy-sapping but the team has recovered from that and is now playing with a lot of confidence,” he said.
To prove that there has been genuine all-round improvement, Payserv said they had not recruited new players during the mid-season window period and the same group of players which was initially the whipping boys of the league has worked had to improve and is playing with purpose pride. Last Saturday, they put the RBZ team under sustained pressure and created several scoring chances but their strike force was not clinical in front of goal and did not put these away, denying Payserv what could have been their first win of the season. Payserv currently anchors the league with 2 points from two draws. Referee Emmanuel Mindozo handled the match, assisted by Tichaona Masimbe.
NB: MFSB Sport apologises for not availing images for this match due to a technical challenge.