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Tobias Mandoreba, in HWANGE
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Manica Diamonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
THE football gods continued to turn their backs on Premiership returnees Hwange after the 10-man coalminers stumbled in front of their home fans in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against visiting Manica Diamonds at the Colliery Stadium yesterday.
Hwange keep on disappointing at home, where they should be stamping their authority after finally getting the nod to play home games at their Colliery Stadium. Not only have the coalminers now failed to win at the Colliery in 270 minutes of football action, they have also not scored a single goal at their beloved fortress.
The gloominess in the faces of their passionate fans at the final whistle yesterday told a big story of misery and despair.
They are probably wondering what is happening to their team when they play at home especially after going into the match on the back of the 2-1 away win to Herentals last weekend. The victor at National Sports Stadium had given them hope that the next home game could yield positive tidings.
Manica Diamonds were quick off the blocks with some purposeful play as they forced man of the match and Hwange goalkeeper Nedrick Madeya to make two stunning saves in the opening four minutes.
But Madeya had no answer to Farai Banda’s glancing header in the fifth minute after another lethal attack by the Gem Boys.
Hwange then fought back with determination and at the half hour mark they thought they had secured the much-needed reprieve when striker Courage Sibanda was hacked down inside the box and referee Allen Bhasvi pointed to the spot.
However, the Bulawayo-based referee overturned his decision after consultation with assistant referee Michael Zulu, who adjudged that Sibanda was in an offside position when the incident happened.
The world then started crumbling on the coalminers as defender Brian Mlotshwa was given a red card by Bhasvi at the start of the second half, to leave Chipangano with a mountain to climb because of the numerical handicap.
The second half saw Madeya become a hero with more than a half dozen point-blank saves to deny Manica Diamonds, who turned the screws and threatened to completely overrun Hwange, who to their credit gave a good show in the last stanza. But the equaliser couldn’t come.
Hwange coach Nation Dube said the early goal upset their plans. The former Hwange star also said the pressure of playing at home was still taking its toll on his boys who began the season playing in Bulawayo as their home ground had failed the inspection test.
Dube however was hopeful the team will pick up the pieces and move on.
Manica Diamonds assistant coach Tafadzwa Mashiri, standing in for head coach Jairos Tapera, heaped praises on his charges for the effort to get three points on the road.
Teams
Hwange: N Madeya, E Zulu, K Shiyandindi, G Gumpo, B Mlotshwa, C Nkomo (S Sithole, 68th minute), C Tshuma (B Makopa, 46th minute), S Gadzikwa, B Ngoma (L Sibanda, 46th minute), C Sibanda (J Chivasa, 78th minute)
Manica Diamonds: T Baye, T Chisi, F Banda, K Gwao, T Mavhunga, L Chakoroma, B Chinokwenya (C Teguru, 53rd minute), B Amidu, F Binzi, P Mutasa (P Manhanga, 53rd minute), D Ngoma (G Bero, 76th minute)
Online Reporter