Hwange, Bikita Minerals draw

Tobias Mandoreba

Hwange Correspondent

Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) 2

Bikita Minerals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 2

A stubborn and resilient Bikita Minerals drove a dagger deep into the hearts of the Hwange faithful with an earth-shattering equaliser in injury time, to snatch a point from the jaws of defeat in this cracking Castle Lager Premier League match at the Colliery Stadium yesterday afternoon. 

With Hwange players, technical bench and restless fans praying for the clock to move faster to the final whistle, the visitors scored through outstanding dreadlocked midfielder Barnabas Mtuche, to leave the hosts shell-shocked. 

Mtuche hammered the ball through a forest of legs to beat goalkeeper Wellington Muuya, who dived in vain. 

Hwange are anchoring the log as they went into the game with 11 points from 16 games and are more desperate for points than any other club in the league. 

Hwange showed determination and hunger for success from the first whistle and it was no surprise when they grabbed the lead in the 17th minute through midfield workhorse Solomon Sithole, who unleashed a thunderbolt from the edge of the box, which took a wicked deflection before nestling into the nets, leaving Bikita Minerals goalkeeper First Gandisani sprawling on the wrong side of the goal area. 

To their credit, the visiting miners were not intimidated by the setback as they drew level 13 minutes from the breather through Liberty Masheure, who was allowed a free header, off a Mtuche free kick, to nod home past big goalkeeper Muuya. 

Then came a memorable moment for Hwange’s young midfielder, Marcelline Mlilo, two minutes after the break, when he scored a beauty of a free kick from some 35 metres out to send the home fans into delirium. 

Hwange threatened to finish the game as a contest but as the last half wore on, Bikita Minerals seized the initiative and started camping in the Hwange half with some dangerous forays revolving around Mtuche and pint-sized captain Bennedict Bera.

Two minutes into the five added minutes, the world collapsed on the coalminers, as Bikita Minerals forced the equaliser to seal Hwange’s fate. 

Hwange assistant coach Njabulo Dube lamented the lack of concentration by the boys for the morale-shattering draw.

“Such things happen in football. We took the lead twice and we relaxed and we need to work on that. As a team we also need to reinforce the team but can’t disclose much at the moment,” said Dube. 

Bikita Minerals gaffer Arnold Jani was a happy man. 

“It’s a very good and huge point. It has always been our strategy to capitalise in the second half of games as most teams get complacent. We will continue working hard as a club to finish strong,” said Jani.