Chronicle Editor
Tobias Mandoreba, Hwange Correspondent
Hwange 0-1 Dynamos
HWANGE FC learnt the hard way that in football games you get punished for wasting chances as the coalminers narrowly lost to Dynamos in a pulsating Castle Lager Premier League match played at the Colliery Stadium yesterday afternoon.
Chipangano missed a glut of opportunities especially in the opening stanza and at the end of the day a header by defender Kevin Moyo in the 32nd minute, off a curling corner kick by Nomore Chinyerere, made the huge difference for the vocal blue and white masses who thronged the stadium in numbers to cheer their team.
The Hwange rearguard should take the flak for the goal as they were caught napping when the cross was flighted in, leaving Moyo with acres of space to head home under no challenge at all.
The goal came against the run of play as Chipangano were controlling proceedings but lacked the cutting edge upfront to convert chances into goals.
Hwange’s long script of missed chances started in the eighth minute when striker Claivert Tshuma fluffed a golden opportunity after a miscued clearance fell onto his path inside the box but Tshuma shot tamely off target, much to the chagrin of the drum-beating home faithful.
Pritchard Mpelele was next to curse his luck in front of goal as his powerful effort from the edge of the box rammed against the crossbar with DeMbare goalkeeper Martin Mapisa stranded at the wrong side of the action.
On the half-hour mark, the football gods also turned their back on attacking midfielder Marcelline Mlilo as he agonisingly watched his trademark scorching free-kick whistle off the target by a few inches.
Two minutes later, the DeMbare fans roared with delight as Moyo grabbed what proved to be the winning goal for Dynamos, who were hard-pressed for win after the 2-0 drubbing at home by Highlanders in the preceding fixture.
The goal brought some venom into Dynamos as they almost finished the game as a contest in the dying stages of the opening half as Namibian import Sadney Urikhob almost grabbed two quick goals in succession.
He first rammed the crossbar with a header, before he was denied by Takabva Mawaya from a one-on-one situation after a Dynamos swift counter-attack. Hwange gaffer Rodwell Dhlakama then tried to juggle things 13 minutes in the last half with a triple substitution by ushering in Dominic Chungwa, Prosper Mathe and Mufaro Mutena for Mpelele, Mongameli Tshuma and Mlilo but DeMbare defended their lead to the final whistle.
Hwange will now travel to meet Bulawayo Chiefs on Wednesday at Luveve Stadium in a match of wounded teams as Chiefs also lost 2 -0 to Highlanders yesterday.”I am very disappointed with the result as we missed numerous chances to finish off the game especially in the opening period.
However, that is water under the bridge as we have to regroup and focus on the next encounter. There is no chance to mourn forever in football,” said Dhlakama. His opposite number Genesis Mangombe was a happy man with the result.
“It is a pleasing result to come all the way and get maximum points. We all know why we lost to Highlanders as we had not trained for some days but we had to regroup and prepare hard for this game. The league is still open and with such performances, we can get there and even get something positive end of the season,” said Mungombe.
Team
Hwange: Takabva Mawaya; Gift Mbweti; Kelly Shiyandindi; Raymond Uchena; Ralyton Maphosa; Winston Mhango; Shepard Gadzikwa; Mongameli Tshuma (Prosper Mathe 58th minute); Marcelline Mlilo (Mufaro Mutena 58th minute); Claivert Tshuma (Blessing Ngoma 75th minute); Pritchard Mpelele (Dominic Chungwa 58th minute).
Dynamos: Martin Mapisa; Emmanuel Jalai; Nomore Chinyerere (Emmanuel Paga 55th minute); Frank Makarati; Kevin Moyo; Shadreck Nyahwa; Tanaka Shandirwa (Tendai Magwaza 75th minute); Emmanuel Ziocha (Tapiwa Muzafiti 94th minute); Donald Mudadi; Valentine Kadonzvo (Temptation Chiunga 55rd min); Sadney Urikhob (Elton Chikona 75th minute)
Online Reporter