Chronicle Editor
Tobias Mandoreba , Hwange Correspondent
Hwange 0-0 Ngezi Platinum
AN under pressure Hwange halted their dance with misfortunes on a football pitch with a hard-fought and deserved point after sharing the spoils with defending champions Ngezi Platinum Stars in an exciting Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at the Colliery Stadium yesterday afternoon.
Going into the contest, the coalminers had gone for four games without a win with losses to Bulawayo Chiefs, Simba Bhora, Tell One and Chegutu Pirates and the match yesterday was a cliffhanger tie and on the edge as Chipangano needed to come out with something to end the nightmares of the four matches and breathe some oxygen in their campaign.
Both teams dished out a complete football fiesta to the bumper crowd in a game that had the ingredients of crisp passes, methodical attacks and demonstration of sheer determination by both sets of players.
It was also a match in which Hwange second choice goalkeeper Bhekimpilo Ncube chose to exhibit his goalkeeping brilliance and repaid coach Nation Dube’s faith in him with some top-drawer saves especially in the last half when Ngezi Platinum Stars came charging at Hwange-like a wounded buffalo.
The introduction of Takunda Benhura for Nigel Makumbe early in the last stanza added some firepower to the visitors’ attack.
Ncube’s heroics started five minutes after the breather when he smothered a ferocious free-kick from Ngezi captain Qadr Amini
Twenty minutes from time he denied big striker Claude Mapoka from close range but his save of the afternoon came fifteen minutes from time when he summoned all his reflexes to acrobatically fist away a glancing Talent Chamboko header from close range out for a corner kick, much to the delight and admiration of the roaring crowd.
In injury time, he capped a memorable afternoon when he again denied substitute Moses Demera from point-blank range.
The opening half had few chances for both sides as the teams sized each other and exercised some caution in their gameplay.
Nation Dube was pleased to pick up a point, especially against a backdrop of some poor results in the previous games.
“I am happy with the fight and determination shown by the boys especially that we are coming from a bad patch. I hope we can maintain the momentum in the next games so that we rise on the log table.
I am happy for Bhekimpilo who played his first full game as he proved that he is a top goalkeeper,” said Dube.
His opposite number Takesure Chiragwi was content with the point on the road.
“It was a balanced game in which both teams gave everything to come out victorious. In the last half, we played well and attacked the opponents and credit to their goalkeeper for those heroic saves that kept Hwange in the game. I will take the point with a smile,” said Chiragwi.
Teams
Hwange: Bhekimpilo Ncube; Kelly Shiyandindi; Ralyton Maphosa; Tawanda Shenje; Sebastian Moyo; Solomon Sithole (Sipho Ndlovu 55rd minute); Marcelline Mlilo (Blessing 85th minute); Canaan Nkomo (Prosper Mathe 85th min) ; Shepard Gadzikwa; Gift Mbweti (Mongameli Tshuma 85th minute) ; Tendai Muvhuti ( Pritchard 55rd minute)
Ngezi Platinum Stars: Nelson Chadya; Qadr Amini (Tinashe Mashaireni 80th minute) ; Polite Moyo; Nigel Makumbe (Takunda Benhura 46th minute); Kudzai Chigwida; Gareth Madhake; Claude Mapoka ( Moses Demera 80th minute) Marvellous Mukumba; Talent Chamboko; Marvin Gaki; (Tinotenda Murasiranwa) Richard Hachiro.
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