adminFrom Tobias Mandoreba in HWANGE
Hwange………………………………..(1) 2
Buffaloes…………………………………..0
Hwange’s prospects of having another dance with the elite in Zimbabwe’s top-flight football next year brightened yesterday as the coalminers gored a charging Green Buffaloes in a Castle Lager Premiership soccer match played under sizzling Hwange temperatures yesterday.
With the race to swim away from the relegation waters getting intriguing as the championship race nears the end, Hwange simply had to take full advantage of playing at home but they will be the first to admit that the soldiers gave them a big scare as they also battle for oxygen with two games to go. But at the end of this tough battle for survival, the coal-miners prevailed courtesy of goals from veterans Gilbert Zulu on the stroke of half-time and a gem of a goal from Farai Vimisai 10 minutes from the end to deflate Buffaloes’ ego and take their tally to 38 points.
Buffaloes came into the match with their guns blazing as they threatened to score as early as the third minute after Wonder Sithole unleashed a ferocious volley from the edge of the box which forced young Hwange goalminder Takabva Mawaya to go airborne and acrobatically tip the effort for the first corner of the match.
Hwange, who had a slow start to the match, only showed serious intent on the quarter-hour mark when they launched their first attack which almost resulted in a goal only for Isaac Masame, who had beaten an ill-timed offside trap, to be denied by Buffaloes goalkeeper Blessing Mwandimutsira in a one-on-one situation.
Hwange head coach Nation Dube was very pleased with his boys’ performance after the match.
“I am happy with the boys’ performance which is a result of some hard work. We hope to pick up from here and end the season on a high note,” said Dube.
His opposite number Timothy Masachi bemoaned the soft goals his lads conceded. “We had contained Hwange but I feel the two goals we conceded were a big letdown.”
Online Reporter