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Masvingo-based referee Masakadza Makonese came under the spotlight after allowing the goal to stand after Maheya’s effort appeared to have been cleared off the line by Brian Mbiriri.
The goal sparked protests from Chicken Inn players and officials led by coach Adam Ndlovu which forced a two minute stoppage before play resumed.
The hosts came into the match needing nothing short of victory to crawl out of the relegation zone and it was no surprise that Hardbody gaffer Tavaka Gumbo had for the first time three strikers in Callisto Maheya, Aleck Marime and former Shabanie Mine player Michael Mageja in the starting line-up leading the attack.
It was, however, Chicken Inn who took the game to their opponents as they looked the team more likely to score in the early stages of the game with the attacking trio of Tendai Ndoro, Kudakwashe Mahachi and Thomas Chimenya causing anxious moments for Hardbody.
The drumsticks’ first chance fell to Danny Phiri in the sixth minute when he was fed by Chimenya inside the box but his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper Alexander Useni in a one-on-one situation and immediately after that a curling Herbert Dick cross could not find takers.
After the two chances it became a see-saw affair with action swinging from one end of the field to the other and in the 36th minute, Chicken Inn had another opportunity to score but Chimenya blazed his shot over the bar after dispossessing Hardbody defender, Irvine Mugwamba.
Hardbody’s first real chance in the match fell to Maheya a minute later when he dribbled past two defenders before finding Marime who in turn laid the ball back to him but fired a weak shot which was easily dealt with by Chicken Inn goalkeeper Njabulo Nyoni.
The second half started on a lively note with Hardbody dominating the proceedings but there were few goal scoring chances as both teams seemed content to share the spoils. The deadlock was then broken in the 75th minute when substitute Nhlanhla Ncube found Maheya who had managed to break free from Moses Jackson before unleashing a low shot which left the Chicken Inn goalkeeper stranded in a goalmouth melee.
However, Mbiriri seemed to have cleared the lines but to his awe the referee indicated a goal sending the predominantly Hardbody fans into a frenzy.
The referee’s decision drew the ire of Chicken Inn gaffer Ndlovu who described Makonese as the man-of-the-match.
“The referee was the man-of-the-match, that is all I can say. Such kind of bad refereeing is the reason why we get referees from South Africa for some of our games,” complained Ndlovu.
Watosvorwa gaffer Gumbo was pleased with the result and urged fans to be patient with the team.
“I am happy with the result as we are still working on combinations. Our supporters should be patient as I said before we are not going to be relegated,” he said.
Teams
Hardbody: Alexander Useni, Cornellius Simango, Brian Juru, Andrew Chuma, Callisto Maheya (Marlvern Nyakabangwe 85th minute), Aleck Marime, Hillary Gravel, Irvine Mugwamba, Richard Jongwe, (Nhlanhla Ncube 62nd minute), Cliff Nyoni
Chicken Inn: Njabulo Nyoni, Moses Jackson, Lineance Mpofu, Walter Mukanga, Danny Phiri, Thomas Chimenya (Marshall Marime 62nd minute), Tendai Ndoro (Evans Chikwaikwai 73rd minute), Herbert Dick, Kuda Mahachi, Brian Mbiriri, Felix Chidungwe.
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter