How Mine shoots to the top

From Ray Bande in Mutare
Buffaloes 1-2 How Mine
HOW Mine shot to the summit of the Castle Lager Premiership table after a hard fought 2-1 triumph over hosts Buffaloes at Sakubva yesterday.

Chikurupati, who kept intact their nine match unbeaten run with a clinical show away from home, will be guaranteed of their stay on top of the domestic Premiership table at least until Sunday when the other teams in the top four play their league matches.

But while good times continued to roll for the visitors, it was another bad day for the inconsistent hosts as they slumped to their fourth defeat on the trot.

Luke Masomere’s men, who playing before pay per view DStv SuperSport cameras for the first time on home ground, started off the match with their feet firm on the pedal, knitting some fine passes in the middle of the park and only had themselves to blame for missing several clear cut scoring chances especially in the first 20 minutes.

Nonetheless, the visitors gradually clawed back into the game and it was not long before they started dictating the pace but somehow their strikers, especially Kuda Musharu, were equally guilty of fluffing scoring opportunities that came their way in the first half.

The heavens then opened up for Chikurupati six minutes after the break when jittery Buffaloes defender Prosper “Zhake” Matizanadzo handled in the box in a desperate attempt to clear the ball and Harare referee Nomore Masundire did not hesitate to point to the spot.

Up stepped veteran midfielder Mernard Mupera who made no mistake as he sent Buffaloes goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira the wrong way to propel his team into a well-deserved lead.

Barely three minutes after taking the lead, How Mine were back to torment their opponents and once again Matizadzo was a bundle of nerves as he watched Benjamin Marere control the ball, charge towards goal before releasing a blistering shot from a tight angle to double the lead.

However, dreadlocked Buffaloes defender Moses “Kalito” Gutu found the face saver for the home team with a hard and low shot from close range off Roy Mwenga’s cross.

How Mine coach Philani Ncube was naturally elated after knitting a nine match unbeaten run.

“I am happy that I have won this game. Buffaloes are a good side and this has always been a difficult venue for me. In fact, for the five or six times I have played here this is the first victory.

“They (Buffaloes) played well in the early stages of the game but went to sleep later. We missed a number of opportunities, otherwise we could have won by a wider margin,” he said.

Buffaloes’ coach Luke Masomere said his team was only unfortunate to lose after playing so well.

“I think we played well as a team but we failed to utilise the scoring chances that came our way. I think I will need to scout for more strikers because we lacked the cutting edge upfront. I also think the penalty that

How Mine was awarded was not a genuine penalty but otherwise that is how the game of soccer goes,” he said.

Teams:

Buffaloes: B Mwandimutsira; S Choenda; M Gutu; P Chandisaita; P Matizanadzo; T Mombeshora; T Jefrey; F Bushiri; R Mwenga; L Katongomara (A Dzumbunu 16th minute); P Thembani (E Dzumbunu 74th minute):

How Mine: E Mazarura; J Chitereki; B Dube; G Banda; G Magariro; E Muzanenhamo; B Marere (G Nyamadzawo 86th minute); K Musharu; M Mupera; W Sithole (X Moyo 71st minute); T Masuku (N Mukumbi 86th minute).