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Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
Hwange 0-0 Caps United
HOSTS Hwange and visiting Caps United shared spoils in a tightly contested Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played before a huge crowd at the Colliery Stadium yesterday. It was clear at the end that the Green Machine was more satisfied with a point in light of the industrial action that saw players threatening not to travel to Hwange if their outstanding salaries and allowances were not paid.
Caps United showed positive intent early on and could have raced into the lead in the 10th minute after striker Simbarashe Nhivi went on a mazy run on the right flank. He sent in a delicate cross, but alert goalkeeper Future Sibanda smothered the ball with Dominic Chungwa ready to stab it home from inside the box.
The coalminers read the danger signs well, blocked the porous areas, and started sniffing around for a breakthrough, which could have come in the 20th minute when Munyaradzi Mungadze’s flashing header sailed agonisingly wide with big goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda clutching at straws.
Five minutes later, Hwange striker Gilbert Zulu turned saviour when he came from nowhere to clear a Phineas Bamusi goal-bound effort out for a corner from the line, with the Caps United bench already celebrating.
Bamusi had connected a cheeky free-kick by Valentine Musarurwa from the edge of the box. Ten minutes from the breather, the wasteful Chungwa continued with his lack of precision in front of goal when he turned David Boriwondo inside out, only to miscue his effort with the keeper to beat.
This was followed by a flurry of Caps United attacks engineered by midfield kingpin Joel Ngodzo and Bamusi, but Chungwa continued to disappoint. The second half was a see-saw affair, with both teams taking turns to attack each other’s goal, but nothing materialised.
Chungwa thought he had broken the deadlock in the 55th minute, but referee Allen Basvi had blown for a foul on goalkeeper Sibanda before the big striker had slotted the ball into the nets.
Hwange attributed their failure to collect maximum points to tight man marking tactics employed by Caps United coach Lloyd Chitembwe, who assigned steely defender Stephen Makatuka to stick to young slippery Hwange attacking midfielder Gift Mbweti.
Mbweti now orchestrates most of Hwange’s attacks. “The game was a 50-50 affair and it was a fair result, as both teams approached the match with good tactics,” said Hwange coach Mabelo Njekwa. Chitembwe praised his boys for fighting for the point.
“I am happy with the approach by my boys to the match. I cannot fault them on anything today, especially given the circumstances in the build up to this game, and I hope we can work hard for positive results going forward,” said Chitembwe.
Teams
Hwange: F Sibanda; P Dube; G Ndlovu; D Boriwondo; O Moyo; C Banda( P Zimunya 76th min); C Muleya(I Mucheneka 54th min); M Mungadze; A Tshuma; G Mbweti; G Zulu
Caps United: E Sibanda; V Musarurwa; J Jangano; C Muzambwa; S Makatuka; D Chafa; M Muchenje; P Bamusi; S Nhivi (A Kambanje 53th min); J Ngodzo; D Chungwa. — @MandorebaTobias
Online Reporter