Chronicle EditorTobias Mandoreba in Hwange
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
Ngezi Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
TWO well-executed goals by defender Phakamani Dube and veteran striker Gilbert Zulu was all a 10-man Hwange needed to notch up their first win in this year’s Castle Lager Premier League soccer campaign as the coalminers silenced newboys Ngezi Platinum at the Colliery yesterday.
With the pressure levels already rising in the Hwange camp after two defeats without a goal scored in the opening two fixtures, stand-in head coach Mebelo Njekwa was vindicated for ringing lots of changes to the side which saw young players Gift Mbweti, Admire Banda and goalkeeper Future Sibanda getting the nod to start ahead of seasoned players as these rookies performed beyond expectations.
Young Mbweti, a thorn in the flesh for the Ngezi Platinum defence each time he was in possession, could have grabbed his first goal in Chipangano colours in the 6th minute but could not direct his header, off a Zulu cross, into an empty net with visitors goalkeeper nowhere near the action.
In the 18th minute, the youngster again cursed his lack of luck in front of goal as his ferocious volley crashed against the crossbar with the Hwange technical bench and the fans already celebrating.
The visitors were simply missing in action as their first shot on target only came in the 35th minute when former Hwange player Talent Chamboko latched on to a loose ball at the edge of the box before releasing a scorcher which found young Sibanda alert in-between the posts.
Hwange’s breakthrough came deep into stoppage-time of the opening half when a Ngezi Platinum defender raised a high boot into the face of Admire Banda inside the box, leaving the impressive Gwanda-based referee Zibusiso Nkomo with no option but to award the hosts an indirect free-kick.
Left-back Munyaradzi Mungadze laid the ball into the path of Dube whose cheeky free-kick eluded the wall and hit the roof of the nets.
The visitors started the last half in a menacing mood as they started to pin the coalminers in their own half but a swift counter-attack by Hwange in the 57th minute saw Zulu benefit from another Mbweti sitter before hammering past an outdrawn goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira to seal Ngezi Platinum’s fate.
Sensing that his long trip from Mhondoro Ngezi was fast turning into a nightmare coach Clifton “Somalia” Kadurira made a double substitution by throwing into the fray Marvellous Emmanuel and Tichaona Mabvura for James Marufu and Washington Pakamisa respectively in the 65th minute.
The changes saw the visitors having more sting in their attack and they must have smelt blood five minutes later when Mungadze was shown a second yellow card by the referee to give them a numerical advantage but the coalminers rearguard defended for dear life up to the final whistle to leave the passionate Hwange fans wild.
Njekwa was all smiles after the match after watching his charges produce a dazzling performance that brought the league’s newboys crashing down to mother earth on an impressive show in their opening two matches.
“I am very happy today as we learnt from our mistakes in the opening two games. There was no other option today than three points and I am happy the boys played according to instruction to leave our fans happy.” he said.
His opposite number Kadurira blamed his defence for the loss.
“We conceded two soft goals and at the end of the day it costed us the points. We did not play badly and we hope to bounce back.” he said.
Teams
Hwange: F. Sibanda; P. Dube; G. Ndlovu; D. Boriwondo; M. Mungadze; A. Tshuma; C. Muleya; F. Vimisai (P. Mpelele 56th minute); A. Banda; G. Mbweti (N. Sianchali 79th minute); G. Zulu (I. Mucheneka 90th minute)
Ngezi Platinum: B. Mwandimutsira; K. Murera; N. Ketala (J. Ngulube 46th minute); L. Chakoroma; K. Machona; J. Marufu (M. Emmanuel 65th minute); T. Dzukamanja; J. Takunda; W. Pakamisa (T. Mabvura 65th minute); T. Chamboko; E. Katema.
Online Reporter