Hwange gunning for PSL title

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter—-
IN a bold statement of intent, Hwange Football Club have declared ambitions of lifting their maiden Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title this season. In fact the coalminers are convinced this will be their year, a first since the club came into existence in 1893 after being formed by one Albert Geese.

Under Nation Dube, assisted by Brian Njobvu and Chenjerai Dube, one of the finest breed of players at the Colliery who themselves failed to land the big one during their playing days, the trio now believes those years of barrenness might be coming to an end. Their belief, it seems, was fuelled by the 1-1 draw against Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium, a venue that has seen many so called giants slaughtered.

Hwange remain one of only three teams yet to taste defeat so far this season, the others being Highlanders and new boys, ZPC Kariba.
Their scoring rate has been impressive.

They are the first team to hit two figure goals so far and lie third on the log standings, a point behind leaders Dynamos and level on points with Highlanders who however enjoy a better goal difference. In fact Bosso have the best defence so far in the league, breached twice by mining teams, Shabanie Mine and Hwange.

Two of Hwange’s players Rodwell Chinyengetere and Aleck Marime, are among the early pacesetters on the goalscorers chat with three goals each.

“We want to compete, I have been telling some journalists that this year we are going for the big one and we still maintain that, just watch the space,” declared Hwange goalkeepers coach Chenjerai Dube.

He added: “Some people are saying we are playing well this season but the truth is that even last year we were playing well its only that there were certain factors and luck was also not on our side.”

For the Chipangano dream to become a reality, there is a need for everyone to remain level headed, avoid being carried away by events and making reckless statements on and off the field as well as on social and mainstream media.

On Sunday, the coalminers played second fiddle to Highlanders in the first 45 minutes but came back strongly, managing to pull one back through Aleck Marime to cancel a 22nd minute penalty kick by Munyaradzi Diya.

Confidence might be there in the Hwange dressing room but they lived dangerously as Bosso missed some glorious opportunities which if they had converted, might have made life miserable for Chipangano.

They also owe their point to lack of ingenuity on the part of the Highlanders technical bench who failed to read Hwange’s weak points, even when they were a man down for close to 15 minutes.

Hwange wing backs, Eric Chipeta and Munyaradzi Mungadze should have been Highlanders’ two highways to glory as they both lack speed.

Coach Dube almost made a terrible blunder when he took out young Oscar Lungu who had managed to squeeze a bit of life out of Erick Mudzingwa and had Bosso substitute Peter Rio Moyo, who came in for the injured Mthulisi Maphosa late in the first half, been effective on the part Highlanders, they might have enjoyed territorial advantage in the engineroom.

Luckily for Chipangano, Moyo did not come to the party.
“That boy Chipeta should not play in that position because he has no speed but is good in central defence and if they continue using him there, things might start falling apart for them,” said veteran coach Cosmas Zulu.

Even though Bosso’s goal came through a Chipeta error after he hacked down Milton Ncube and later on had Mungadze red carded for a foul on the same player, the result could have been different if Highlanders had maintained their starting shape where dribbling wizard Kudakwashe Mahachi was on the attacking left.

As Bosso were dropping two points at home, their fiercest rivals Dynamos were on the ascendancy at the expense of ailing Harare City who they hammered 3-1, a result that propelled the Callisto Pasuwa coached boys to the top of the standings, a point clear of the Bulawayo giants.

It was a weekend that had mixed results for Bulawayo teams, two of them drawing while two picked up maximum points, one for the first time.

How Mine finally remembered how to win and two goals from Mernard Mupera, a beauty in the 44th minute and a 76th minute rare goal from George Magariro were enough to cancel out Shabanie Mine’s 22nd minute opener by Ashley Mukwenya. Credit though should go to Shabanie Mine coach John Phiri who has managed to build a team from the ashes following the departure of nearly 90 percent of the players from last season.

Gold miners coach Philani Ncube was on cloud nine after the win and told a post match media briefing that their participation in the Caf Confederation Cup had drained the boys.

“We are taking it game by game now,” he said.
Bantu Rovers handed airmen Chapungu their first defeat of the season, scoring two goals in a blistering 15 minutes of raids in their opponent’s area. Tshintsha Guluva, who are slowly winning the hearts of Bulawayo football fans, scored through Fortune Ncube inside a minute and utility player Pride Zireni on the 15 minute mark.

Chicken Inn picked up their second point in a row with a 1-1 draw away to Triangle after they failed to defend a Tendai Mukambi 29th minute opener that saw Ronald Mudimu levelling from the spot in the 55th minute.

The Gamecocks coached by former Motor Action coaches Joey Antipas and his assistant Prince Matore as well as having a number of players that led the former league champions to Division One, have registered a single win, two draws and a loss so far. Since their opponents in that single win are league punch bags so far, Harare City, Antipas and crew need to up their game before they complete another relegation mission inside two seasons, this time in the second largest city, Bulawayo.