adminNEW boys How Mine continued with their decent run in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League when they dispatched battling Buffaloes in an otherwise evenly balanced match at Luveve yesterday.
Goals by former Hwange player Simon Njeleza and in-form striker Simba Sithole were enough to condemn the visitors to their second defeat in Bulawayo in as many weekends after they lost to Highlanders last week at Barbourfields.
How Mine coach Philani Mabhena praised his charges for a good performance but he still insists that they are fighting relegation even after the gold miners collected another three points to take their tally to 17.
‘‘Like what I said from the beginning of the season, we are in the league to fight relegation. This is however an important win for us and we only need 20 more points to survive relegation. The boys played well although we are still working on combinations. We started our pre-season preparations very late and we are yet to gel as a team but we are slowly getting there.
It is important that we are picking up instead of dropping points,’’ said Mabhena.
His counterpart Saul Chaminuka said they conceded two soft goals when his defence went to sleep and allowed How Mine to capitalise.
Chaminukuka reckoned that he would have been happy with at least a draw.
‘‘This is the second time I am returning from Bulawayo empty handed after conceding two soft goals like what we did against Highlanders last week. We did not put a good fight although the match was balanced but credit to How Mine for playing well. We hope to bounce back in our next matches,’’ said Chaminuka.
In the 17th minute Buffaloes’ Admire Dzumbunu who troubled the home team’s defence with his diagonal runs watched in agony when his shot from outside the box missed the target by a few inches after How Mine goalkeeper Pedzisai Gumiremhete failed to deal cleanly with a back pass from Gilbert Banda.
How Mine almost drew first blood in the 33rd minute when Sithole found some space from the right flank and crossed the ball into the box but January’s full blooded shot was parried for a corner by the ever alert Tandadzai.
Six minutes later Tandadzai was called to action again when he made a suicidal save from a corner kick after How Mine won two corner kicks inside a minute.
A minute before half time Njeleza broke the deadlock when former Black Rhinos, Highlanders and FC Platinum midfielder Mernard Mupera won a throw in and crossed the ball into the visitors’ box.
Njeleza quickly reacted by driving the ball home much to the delight of How Mine’s band of drum beating supporters before the referee blew for half time.
After the breather the visitors came back a rejuvenated side but poor finishing in front of goal let them down and they also failed to utilise the number of set pieces that fell their way.
Mupera almost caught the goalkeeper off guard when he released a blistering shot from outside the box in the 64th minute but Tandadzai was equal to the task when punching the ball back into play.
How Mine’s defence of Dick, Gilbert, Khumbulani and Brighton Dube should be commended for giving goalkeeper Gumiremhete extra cover while Ocean Mpofu, Mupera and January commanded the midfield well.
Teams:
How Mine: P. Gumiremhete, K. Banda, H. Dick, G. Banda, O. Mpofu, M. Mupera, T. Masuku, T. January, S. Njeleza (A Ndiweni 62nd minute), S. Sithole (N. Mpala 80th minute)
Buffaloes: C. Tandadzai, N. Musvipa, F. Banda, T. Ndlovu, P. Chandisaita, P. Alfasi, T. Mareya (R Mwenga 60th minute). , A. Dzumbunu, E. Dzumbunu , J. Muzvokomba (D. Zimbago 57th minute), S. Sibanda
leeroy
Online Reporter