adminTobias Mandoreba in Hwange
Hwange 2 – 0 Ngezi Platinum
TWO well-executed goals by defender Phakamani Dube and veteran striker Gilbert Zulu notched up the first win of the season for Hwange in yesterday’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against newcomers Ngezi Platinum at the Colliery Stadium. With pressure already rising in the Hwange camp after two defeats and without scoring a goal, stand-in head coach Mebelo Njekwa was vindicated for ringing changes to the side, which saw youngsters Gift Mbweti, Admire Banda and goalkeeper Future Sibanda getting the nod ahead of seasoned players. The rookies did not disappoint as they performed beyond expectations.
Mbweti was a thorn in the Ngezi Platinum defence and could have grabbed his first goal in the Chipangano colours in the sixth minute, but he could not direct his header on target with the Ngezi goalkeeper flatfooted.
In the 18th minute, the youngster again cursed himself as his ferocious volley cannoned off the crossbar, with the Hwange technical bench and 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 onto a loose ball at the edge of the box and released a powerful shot that was dealt with by the young Sibanda in goals for the hosts.
Hwange’s breakthrough came deep in first half stoppage time when a Ngezi Platinum defender raised a high boot into the face of Admire Banda inside the box and Gwanda-based referee Zibusiso Nkomo awarded an indirect free kick.
Left-back Munyaradzi Mungadze laid the ball into the path of Dube, whose cheeky shot went over the wall into the roof of the net.
Ngezi started the second half in menacing mood and pinned the coalminers in their own half for long periods.
However, a swift counterattack by Hwange saw Zulu hammering past the outdrawn Blessing Mwandimutsira in the 57th minute to seal victory for the hosts.
Ngezi coach Clifton Kadurira made a double substitution, throwing in Marvellous Emmanuel and Tichaona Mabvura for James Marufu and Washington Pakamisa respectively in the 65th minute. The changes added some sting into the visitors’ attack and they must have smelled blood five minutes later when Mungadze of Hwange was shown a red card for a second bookable offence to give them a numerical advantage.
However, the Hwange rearguard stood firm until the final whistle.
Njekwa was all smiles after the match. “I’m very happy today as we learnt from our mistakes in the opening two games. There was no other option today than to collect three points and I’m happy the boys played according to instructions and made our fans happy,” he said.
Kadurira blamed his defence for the loss.
“We conceded two soft goals and at the end of the day it cost us points. We didn’t 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 min); A Banda; G Mbweti( N Sianchali 79th min); G Zulu ( I Mucheneka 90th min)
Ngezi Platinum: B Mwandimutsira; K Murera; N Ketala ( J Ngulube 46th min); L Chakoroma; K Machona; J Marufu ( M Emmanuel 65th min); T Dzukamanja; J Takunda; W Pakamisa(T Mabvura 65th min); T Chamboko; E Katema.
Online Reporter