adminHWANGE will have to wait a little bit longer before the football gods answer their prayers for a first full set of points after throwing away a lead to share the spoils against a plucky and 10-man How Mine in this Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at the Colliery yesterday.
The coalminers came into this match licking their wounds after a savage attack by Buffaloes who handed them a 4-2 drubbing last weekend in a match which came after two draws against Motor Action (away) and Black Rhinos (home).
Any hopes for redemption by the drum-beating home fans after last weekend’s painful defeat in Mutare fizzled out into thin air in the 72nd minute when big striker Simba Sithole capitalised on Hwange goal-minder Timothy Sibanda’s poor judgment on a high cross to nod home the important equaliser for the gold miners, who were short on personnel after defender Hebert Dick was shown a red card for foul language in the 57th minute.
The hosts had raced into the lead in the 54th minute, courtesy of a well-taken penalty by captain Gerald Ndlovu who sent How Mine goalie Notice Dube the wrong way.
Defender Brighton Dube was the culprit as he tripped striker Gilbert Zulu inside the box as the veteran forward went for the kill, leaving referee Hardley Ndazi with no option but to point to the spot.
Away from the goals, the Premiership debutants How Mine troubled the hosts as early as the first minute when they forced two corner kicks in an early attacking spell which forced Sibanda to make a point blank save after a Simon Njeleza’s left-footed screamer. The visitors were not done yet as they continued to besiege the Hwange half with some dangerous forays which resulted in their best chance of the day on the quarter hour mark in which the home side have to thank lanky defender David Boriwondo for clearing a Sithole goal-bound effort off the line. That rebound then resulted to a goalmouth melee where two more shots at goal were gallantly blocked by the coalminers’ rearguard.
The heat from the burning coal was only felt in the last quarter of the opening half when Evans Rusike came on for the injured rookie Gabriel Mwembe in the 29th minute as the home side started to gain confidence and sprayed passes around in a dazzling spell in which former Soccer Star of the Year finalists Nkosana Siwela and Farai Vimisai started to prove their mettle.
After the breather, the pendulum remained balanced until nine minutes from the break when a swift counter-attack, orchestrated by Isaac Masame and Rusike, resulted in Zulu waltzing past Dube who had no other option than to bring the veteran striker down.
Minutes after the goal veteran Dick was sent for an early shower, leaving the hopes of the home supporters overflowing as they roared in anticipation of a victory.
But How Mine simply refused to be choked by the coal dust as a solo run by Thandazani Ndlovu on the right flank in 72nd minute resulted in him sending in a high cross which was misjudged by Sibanda who came off his line late to leave Sithole with all the space to head home.
Hwange huffed and puffed for another breakthrough but the numerically disadvantaged visitors were in no mood for any favours.
Newboys Pakhamani Dube and Pritchard Mpelele, who both came in as substitutes, exhibited some flashes of brilliance.
Hwange gaffer Nation Dube was disappointed with the result but sees light at the end of the tunnel as his boys are slowly starting to gain some confidence.
“I am obviously disappointed with a draw at home after taking the lead but on a more positive note I can see that the confidence is rising in the boys as they are being able to string some passes around,” he said.
His opposite number Philani Mabhena was pleased with an away point.
“I am happy to have got a point away from home as it is very difficult to be the away side as some of the decisions doesn’t always go your way,” he said.
Online Reporter