Chinyan’anya rues costly home draw as Rhinos surrender NRSL lead
Black Rhinos head coach Weddington Chinyan’anya bemoaned failure to capitalise on home advantage after his side was held to a 1-1 draw by third-placed Chingwere FC at One Commando Barracks on Saturday- a result that saw the army side surrendering top spot with one game to go.
Chauya Chipembere had come into the weekend leading the standings by a single point and looked on course to win the 2026 MCM Estates Northern Region Soccer League title.
The army side took the lead in the 15th minute before Chingwere equalized in the 40th minute.
No goals were scored in the second half as both sides settled for a point.
Speaking after the match, Chinyan’anya admitted complacency cost his charges after they had done the hard part by taking an early lead.
“It was a good game, we played well and managed to get an early goal, but complacency came to my boys and we conceded a soft goal,” Chinyan’anya said.
“That’s football my friend, the good thing is they played well but it’s a disappointing result because we failed to capitalise on home advantage, it’s not good for us.
“For us, we have been leading as log leaders, but that’s football, there’s one game to go so we need to focus and keep pushing, we never know with football,” he added.
Crucially, the draw allowed Harare City to leapfrog Rhinos at the top of the log.
Now on 80 points from 41 games, Harare City lead the pack after their crucial 1-0 away victory over Zambezi G&C.
Dropping to second with 79 points from the same number of games are Black Rhinos.
Still third on 76 points and now officially out of the title race are Chingwere.
With 46 scored and 20 conceded, Harare City have a +26 goal difference.
Boasting a superior +28 goal difference from 45 scored and 17 conceded are Black Rhinos.
That means Rhinos still hold a two-goal advantage in goal difference should the teams finish level on points.
Effectively, the destiny of the championship is no longer in Rhinos hands going into the final day.
City need only a win at home against Jumbo Giants at Callies Sports Club this Saturday to seal promotion back to the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.
In contrast, Black Rhinos must travel to Chikangwe Stadium to face Karoi United needing a win and hoping Harare City slip up.
Under one scenario, if City draw and Rhinos win, both will finish on 82 points with Rhinos edging it on goal difference.
Alternatively, if City lose and Rhinos win, Rhinos will be champions outright.
Should City eventually win promotion, it will be one of the greatest football upsets and stories of resilience in the division.
At one stage in the season, City trailed the Army side by seven points in the title race.
Rhinos are looking to bounce back after being relegated from the Premiership at the end of the 2023 season.
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