adminall important away point in a Castle Lager Premiership tie at Sakubva yesterday.
Ageing Buffaloes anchorman Shepherd Nkata was the first to put his name on the scoresheet just a minute after the break when he volleyed home a beauty from just outside the box which left Hwange goalkeeper Petros Mhari well beaten.
The coalminers, however, restored parity in the 59th minute when forceful second half substitute Nkosana Siwela took full advantage of a lapse in concentration on the part of the Buffaloes rearguard and fired home a scorcher, beating a badly exposed Hope Bere.
But it was yet another lifeless show on home soil for Buffaloes, which was worsened by inexplicable substitution decisions by Chaminuka and soccer fans in Mutare were left to watch in agony as their team failed to collect maximum points at home.
The former Masvingo United coach drew the ire of many Buffaloes fans when he kept an out-of-sorts Prosper Matizanadzo for the entire 90 minutes while he had the audacity to pull out impressive Roy “Apama” Mwenga.
That young Philip Thembani was left to warm the substitutes bench and only introduced the talented youngster in the 80th minute while Matizanadzo was left roaming aimlessly on the pitch for the entire 90 minutes defied logic to many neutrals.
Buffaloes have been impressive on the road but the opposite remains true for their performance at home where below average displays have become the order of the day.
Yesterday’s rather lukewarm encounter got off to a promising start with both sides creating scoring chances but failing to convert.
Given that Buffaloes will now face Dynamos, Highlanders and Monomotapa away from home in three of their remaining four matches of the season, assistant coach Timoth “Sicho” Masachi conceded that yesterday’s stalemate against Hwange was a bad result for the Mutare side.
“I think this was a bad result for us,” said Masachi.
Hwange coach Nation Dube was happy with the result.
“I am happy with the way we played and particularly the result,” said Dube.
Teams
Buffaloes: H Bere; J Jambo; S Nkata; T Ndlovu; M Waerera; S Muchabaya; P Mudau (P Thembani 80th minute) P Matizanadzo; P Bamusi; B Chirere; R Mwenga (M Dumbura 72nd minute):
Hwange: P Mhari; T Sibelo; M Mungadze; D Boriwondo; K Mhango; F Vimisayi (N Siwela 59th minute); O Lungu; G Zulu; T Mareya; E Rusike (F Zikumbawira 85th minute).
Online Reporter