Zimbabweans Celebrating Manyuchi's WBC Silver Belt Victory
Manyuchi's sister, Jacqueline said, “We knew it after he spent three months in training that he would win."
It is celebration time for Charles Manyuchi and also Zimbabwe’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League club, Caps United. Manyuchi’s followers have grown since Friday when he systematically knocked down Dmitry Mikhaylenko of Russia to land the World Boxing Council’s silver belt. The Masvingo-born boxer has become a topical issue in Zimbabwe where quail birds had become a household name. Sports Minister Makhosini Hlongwane said he is happy about Manyuchi’s achievement. “I am over the moon. I am very very excited that Manyuchi has done this,” said Hlongwane. The boxer’s sister, Jacqueline, said Manyuchi is a hero after taking on Dmitry Mikhaylenko with limited training facilities. “We knew it after he spent three months in training that he would win,” said Jaqueline. Manyuchi is expected home this evening after passing through Zambia where his promoters are based. Also celebrating are the Green Machine of Caps United who shot to the top of the 16-team Castle Lager Premier Soccer League table after a hard fought 1-0 win over winless Border Strikers. The victory at the National Sports Stadium also sees Caps United equal on 12 points with FC Platinum but the Green Machine go top on goal difference after Kugona Kuenge Kudada were held to a goalless draw by Harare City. Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe said although they did not win by a higher margin as expected, the three points garnered were what they wanted from the match. “We are quite satisfied. We are very happy, though today, it was not as pretty as we would have wanted,” said Chitembwe. Border Strikers are without a point or a goal in their five matches and coach, Saul Chaminuka, is honest enough saying they have to move a gear up if they are to survive relegation. “We played well but not too well because we lost. What we need to do is go back and work,” said Chaminuka. Overnight leaders FC Platinum surrendered their lead to Caps United after that goalless draw against Harare City in their fortress of Mandava Stadium. FC Platinum have the same number of points 12 as Caps United but they trail the former cup kings on goal difference. The 2015 Zimbabwe Caf Confederation Cup representatives were a pale shadow of what they have been in the last four matches and Harare City coach Taurayi Mangwiro said they have themselves to blame for not beating the Money Bags. “You all agree with me. We have ourselves to blame for not taking the three Points,” said Mangwiro. Highlanders moved to second on the table after a narrow 1-0 win over Chapungu courtesy of a Knox Mutizwa strike. But there is no such good news at 2015 champions Chicken Inn who stuttered to another loss this time 1- 0 to city rivals Bulawayo City. Mutare City picked their first set of maximum points after a 1-0 win over How Mine while another of the newboys Ngezi Platinum also collected three points after a 2-0 win over Tsholotsho Pirates. Portuguese coach Paolo Jorge Silva continues to hang on his job after his team drew 0-0 with Hwange at the Colliery while Triangle also settled for a draw against ZPC Kariba 2-2. Both Triangle and ZPC Kariba are under the guidance of former Dynamos greats, David Mandigora for the Sugar Sugar Boys and Sunday Chidzambwa for Katuruturu. In horser racing, some punters are smiling all the way to the bank after unheralded Rock The Country won the 2000 metre Castle Tankard at Borrowdale Race Course Saturday. The outsider is paying out $50 for every dollar placed on bet and all those who backed Rock The Country are in cloud nine after the six year-old came out top ahead of Mathematician, Windigo and Eurakilon. The race ended up with 12 contestants instead of 14 after Paficca passed away while in training while Flax was withdrawn due to illness. For winning the Castle Tankard, Rock The Country took home $30,000.