adminTobias Mandoreba Hwange Sports Correspondent
Hwange 0-0 Buffaloes
The passionate and soccer crazy Hwange fans left the Colliery Stadium wearing gloomy faces after the coalminers fired blanks and shared the spoils with anequally disjointed Buffaloes after a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played here yesterday.
The season has simply turned into a nightmare for Hwange FC who have amassed a paltry three points from five games.
With a tricky away fixture against a fired up Chapungu in Gweru next, the coalminers have to up their game to avoid the end-of-season doom.
The hosts dominated proceedings in the opening stanza and could have raced into the lead in the 5th minute but Buffaloes goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira summoned all his reflexes to parry a blistering Evans Rusike volley out for a corner kick from close range.
The Eastern Highlands visitors’ only chance came in the 21st minute only for Roy Mwenga to direct his effort into the sky after being cleverly fed by Kastigu Juwakinyu .
The coalminers’ lack of luck in front of goal again came to the fore ten minutes from half time after Gilbert Zulu’s grounder smashed against the left upright with Mwandimutsira diving in vain.
The ageless Zulu again came at the end of hard running Farai Vimisai’s delicate cross moments before half time but watched in agony as his glancing header sailed over the cross bar with the Hwange bench already celebrating.
Hwange started the second half determined to have a breakthrough and could have grabbed the lead in the 50th minute after Buffaloes goal minder Mwandimutsira missed a long ball from defender Tonisani Sibelo but he was spared the blushes as left back Munyaradzi Mungadze failed to capitalise, miscuing his effort from a few metres out.
Hwange’s goalkeepers’ coach Chenjerayi Dube, standing in for coaches Nation Dube and Mebelo Njekwa, then threw in speed merchant Newman Sianchali for fast improving midfielder Innocent Muchenekwa in the 65th minute but the move failed to yield any dividends as the soldiers defended resolutely.
Fifteen minutes from time, the home side had a huge shout for a penalty after defender Phillip Chandisaita appeared to have handled a goal bound effort by Mungadze but heavily built referee Mlindeli Ndebele waved away Hwange’s appeals.
Chenjerayi Dube said the boys did not play according to instructions.
“I told the boys to do a passing game as it was clear Buffaloes were bent on taking at least a point as evidenced by their delaying tactics from the first whistle. We were supposed to be patient throughout but we failed to break down the visitors’ defence.” he said.
His opposite number Joseph Tangaringofa was happy with a point away from home.
“My team played well and I don’t have any complaints over their performance. We will continue fighting,” he said with a big smile.
TEAMS
Hwange :T Sibanda; M Mungadze; D Boriwondo; G Ndlovu; T Sibelo; A Tshuma; I Mucheneka (N Sianchali 65th min); F Vimisai; E Rusike; I Masame; G Zulu
Buffaloes: B Mwandimutsira; K Mwaramba; J Jambo; F Banda; P Chandisaita; P Matizanadzo; S Nkata; L Katongomara (V Mukaha53th min); Kastigu Juwakinyu (S Nyauzima 85th min); R Mwenga (A Dzumbunu 90th min); K Mangondo.
Online Reporter