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Tobias Mandoreba, in HWANGE
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Bulawayo Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 3
A FIRED up Bulawayo Chiefs spoiled the much anticipated return to the Colliery Stadium for Hwange after the visitors embarrassed the coalminers in a Castle Lager Premier League match played in the coal mining town for the first time this season.
With the stadium packed to the rafters after the Premiership football-starved home fans had turned up in their numbers to cheer the boys at their home base, it was Lizwe Sweswe’s charges that had other ideas.
Chiefs doused the coal embers in a game Hwange started the better team but wasted scoring chances.
Like the cruel tale in football always, Chipangano found themselves behind on the half hour mark when Nkosilathi Ncube hammered home from close range against the run of play following a swift counter attack.
The goal came moments after Hwange cried foul after a seemingly genuine goal by Makopa was ruled offside by referee Maka Magare at the behest of assistant referee Oscar Bumhe.
The match official adjudged that Makopa scored from an offside position when in fact the striker had timed his run perfectly from the midfield and latched on to a well-timed pass from King Nasama.
With Hwange threatening to equalise, substitute Ayanda Ncube made it 2-0 in the 71st minute before former Hwange player and substitute Nixon Gama drove the dagger into the home fans’ hearts with the third goal, two minutes from the end, to sum up a miserable home return for Chipangano.
Hwange coach Nation Dube admitted that the boys didn’t play well and had to regroup and do some introspection ahead of the next game.
His opposite number Sweswe praised his charges in what he described as a display of football intelligence.
Teams:
Hwange: N Madeya; E Zulu; K Shiyandindi; B Mlotshwa; L Sibanda; T Goredema (M Mlilo 81min); J Chivasa; S Gadzikwa (B Rendo 81min); S Sithole (E Nkhulungo 63rd min); B Makopa; K Nasama
Bulawayo Chiefs: K Dube; M Msebe (A Ncube 50th min); W Stima; M Mkolo; N Ncube; B Rusinga; D Phiri; M Gasela (O Chirinda 55rd min); B Vheremu; F Moyo; F Matare
Online Reporter