adminA lot of drama went with Hwange’s win against financially troubled Zimbabwe Saints as a hotly disputed penalty decision in the 79th minute led to an 11-minute stoppage in this Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at the Colliery yesterday.
The stoppage involved pushing and shoving from officials of both teams.
Bulawayo-based referee Albert Mbuse adjudged that outstanding defender Danisa Phiri had pushed Chipangano midfielder Nkosana Siwela in a crowded box, resulting in a penalty decision which left the Saints bench furious.
Police had to intervene as Chauya Chikwata players contemplated walking off the pitch in protest. When sanity finally prevailed, more drama was to follow as Gilbert Zulu’s spot-kick was punched away by goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya only for gangling Franseco Zekumbabwere to pounce on the rebound which he crossed to substitute David Borowondo who used his height advantage to head the ball home under challenge from three Saints defenders.
It was a dream return for the lanky defender after a long lay-off due to injury.
After the final whistle Jabulani Chinyangarara, the Saints organising secretary, had no kind words for the referee.
“We lost because the referee gave Hwange a dubious penalty which cost us the points.
“That decision changed the whole complexion of the game,” said a visibly angry Saints official.
Hwange’s assistant coach Nation Dube attributed the subdued performance by his team to the “disturbance of our game plan” after the loss of two players – Gerald Ndhlovu and Munyaradzi Mungadze – to injury in the sixth minute and 64th minute respectively.
Both players had to be ferried to hospital and were replaced by Rodwell Chinyengtere and Borowondo.
Apart from the fracas, Saints started the game with a lot of purpose with a their attacks revolving around former Hwange player Ntokozo Tshuma.
As early as the 6th minute, Tshuma combined well with Joel Nyama but ageless Chipo Tsodzo, the beneficiary of the lovely combination, shot lamely at goal from close-range.
The coalminers hit back with a vengeance on the quarter hour mark when Siwela broke loose on the left flank only for his grounder to be gallantly blocked by Danisa Phiri.
The game then lost its high tempo until Hwange’s Zambian expatriate Kennedy Kashema lit it up again with a thunderous 35-metre volley which drew the best out of Diya in the 25th minute.
Diya went on to produce the save of the afternoon 10 minutes later when he denied Chinyengetere on a one-on-one situation when he dived full stretch to block an effort which was destined for the far post.
Saints came back from the breather fired up with an improved performance by Humpfrey Ncube and Joel Nyama to leave Chipangano on the back foot but their attacks were repelled by some resolute defending by Aaron Katebe and Andrew Tshuma.
All hopes Chauya Chikwata had of coming out with something out of the game fizzled when Borowondo ghosted in to nod home the winner.
Saints came here with only three substitutes as a result of problems bedeviling their camp in the recent days.
Teams
Hwange: T. Sibanda, T. Sibelo, M. Mungadze (D. Borowondo 64th minute), G. Ndlovu (R. Chinyengetere 6th minute), A. Katebe, A. Tshuma, W. Muhango, K. Kashema, N. Siwela, T. Magwendere (F. Zekumbawire 55th minute).
Zimbabwe Saints: M. Diya, A. Mubaiwa, G. Phiri, D. Phiri, C. Tsodzo (80th minute), V. Chitema, N. Tshuma, C. Ndebele, J. Nyama, M. Phakhati, H. Ncube.
Online Reporter