Harare City, Shabanie share spoils

Harare Bureau

Harare City ………………………………………… (1)1
Shabanie Mine ……………………………………. (0)1

HARARE City reduced the gap between them and the log leaders Dynamos to a single point when they shared spoils with Shabanie Mine in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Rufaro yesterday. As the pacesetters were humiliated at the Colliery, the Sunshine Boys could not maximise and hold onto the early goal they had scored.

The hosts hit the ground running when midfielder Nathan Ziwini finished a cross from Silas Songani in the fifth minute.
But Shabanie levelled the terms five minutes after the break, through a Pervington Zimunya header off a Tarisai Rukanda cross.

Harare City captain Godfrey Nguwodzawo missed the perfect cross from the Warriors midfielder who was on the right but an alert Ziwini on the far left got to the end of the cross and buried it home.

Songani was whipping some good crosses from the right but they were finding no takers in the box.
The midfielder, who is proving to be good with set pieces, nearly scored an identical free-kick to the one he fired at the same venue last Sunday, which sent Monomotapa crashing out of the Mbada Diamonds.

His well executed shot from a similar position had the same sting but just lacked precision when just flying wide.
However, it was the visitors who were rewarded five minutes after the breather.

A minute before Shabanie equalised Harare City had survived following a howler by goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupangedengu who spilled a shot from Rukanda’s effort.

But the former Warriors goalkeeper quickly recovered to save himself blushes.
Harare coach Bigboy Mawiwi was clearly not amused with the draw.

“It is two points lost. We want to win each and every game especially at home. Our approach to the game was weak and even the body language during the warm up showed that.

“They started playing well after we had conceded and it was a soft goal. Shabanie are a strong and physical side. I told them we had to fight but unfortunately when they equalised they were comfortable with the draw.

“But we still have eight games to go and we have to recover,” said Mawiwi.
Shabanie mentor Luke Masomere said he was happy with picking a point on the road.

“It was a drab game and boring. I am happy with the result though. They want to win the league and we want to survive so the match didn’t produce fireworks as such.

“We played better football than Harare City but unfortunately we didn’t convert our chances.  We are                                                               fighting for a top eight place. We have a trophy already and have to defend it by finishing in the top eight,” said Masomere.

TEAMS:
Harare City: M. Nyamupangedengu, J. Madora, M. Kunyarimwe, D. Kutyauripo, M. Nyenye, J. Jam, S. Songani.  N. Ziwini, M. Vengesayi (W. Manondo 65th minute), G. Nguwodzawo (D. Savanhu 75th minute), T. Chawapiwa (C. Muvuti 54th minute).
Shabanie:  V. Twaliki, P. Sithole, W. Ngonya, S. Muchabaiwa, B. Mbavarira, T. Mombeshora, F. Bushiri, S. Ndlovu (F. Chirinda 59th minute), P. Zimunya (T. Mtombeni 88th minute), T. Rukanda, N. Maroto (V. Ndaba 58th minute).