admin
Tobias Mandoreba
Hwange Correspondent
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
ZPC Kariba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
RODWELL DHLAKAMA was engaged as Hwange coach on Monday and yesterday he began the audacious bid to save the coalminers from Castle Lager Premiership relegation by picking his first point at the Colliery.
Hwange, who have been struggling with their game, huffed and puffed and in the process shed gallons of sweat in their valiant efforts to give Dhlakama a winning debut.
But lack of potency in front of goal was the coalminers’ biggest undoing.
As ZPC Kariba escaped with a point, Hwange fans were left dejected, feeling as if they had lost the tie as they desperately prayed for a change of fortunes.
Big striker Pritchard Mpelele had the best opportunity for the coalminers, especially in the opening half, but he fluffed them with his script of missed chances, starting in the third minute when his header agonisingly sailed inches over the bar from close range. After 20 minutes, it was deadball specialist Marceline Mlilo’s turn to curse his luck as his hissing 30-metre free-kick missed the right upright by inches with ZPC Kariba goalkeeper Tatenda Mundati diving in vain.
ZPC Kariba were literally in “darkness” especially in the opening stanza as they only got a solitary chance 13 minutes from half-time through a Nyasha Gurende free-kick, which found Hwange goalkeeper Wellington Muuya alert on duty. The introduction of attacking midfielder Mongameli Tshuma for Mlilo in the 58th minute added some fire-power to Hwange’s attack, but chance after chance went begging up to the end.
Their team’s overall showing in the draw left the Hwange fans optimistic of better times ahead.
Dhlakama, who arrived at the Colliery after parting ways with GreenFuel, watched the game from the terraces and later lamented the chances that were missed by his side.
“We missed a glut of chances, which could changed the outlook of the game. However, I liked the effort and enthusiasm throughout the match and we need to work on those grey areas in the next games.
“I liked the support by the fans and we shouldn’t disappoint them in the next home games,” said Dhlakama.
ZPC Kariba coach Newton Chitewe felt the visitors could have left Hwange with the full points.
Online Reporter