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Ricky Zililo
Sports Reporter
How Mine ………………………………………… 0
Black Mambas ………………………………….. 0
A 10-MAN Black Mambas picked up a valuable point on the road when they held How Mine in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
Both sides did not make any moves on the log with How Mine remaining glued on eighth position tied on 28 points with seventh placed Buffaloes while Black Mambas are placed 11th with 26 points from 20 matches.
In yesterday’s lukewarm encounter, veteran midfielder Menard Mupera of How Mine was the most outstanding player on the field, initiating most of his team’s moves.
The home team could have taken an early lead through Thembani Masuku but the former Motor Action midfielder poked the ball straight into the hands of Black Mambas’ goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga from close range four minutes into the game.
How Mine’s other scoring chance in the first half fell to Khumbulani Banda three minutes before the breather when he made his way past his marker on the left side before blasting his effort over the bar instead of simply picking his spot to slot the ball.
Banda was unlucky not to score after his headed effort off an Ocean Mpofu cross was cleared off the line by a visitors’ defender.
An unfit former Dynamos striker Evans Gwekwerere who was introduced in the second half for Tsepo Ranthokoane had his weak effort pushed for a corner by How Mine goalkeeper Nonjabulo Dube.
A minute before fulltime, Black Mambas captain Convenience Hungwe was sent for an early shower after receiving his second bookable offence for a crude lunge on Warren Dube, the second against the same player.
Both coaches, Philani Ncube of How Mine and John “Toto” Ncube of Black Mambas were happy with the result.
“We had a couple of chances which we failed to convert but we are happy with the point that we picked up,” said Philani.
“It was a tough game but a point away from home is better than nothing. Had Evans been more potent, we could have taken maximum points. We are going to concentrate on winning our home games, so that we survive relegation,” said John.
Teams
How Mine: Nonjabulo Dube, Hebert Dick, Nelson Tachi, Brighton Dube, Khumbulani Banda, Ocean Mpofu (Eddie Nkulungo), Menard Mupera, Thembani Masuku (Nqobile Mpala, 46th minute), Warren Dube, Timothy January, Simba Sithole (Arnold Ndiweni, 84th minute)
Black Mambas: Tonderai Mateyaunga, Ben Nyahunzvi, Tendai Chinungo, Luckson Kaisa, Paul Marazanye, Convenience Hungwe, Innocent Nyoni, Joseph Mutambiranwa (Nhlanhla Ncube, 73rd minute), Godknows Mangani, Tsepo Ranthokoane (Evans Gwekwerere, 69th minute), Last Chibwiro
Results at a glance
Yesterday: How Mine 0, Black Mambas 0; Caps United 3, Tripple B 0
Wednesday: Highlanders 2, Monomotapa 0; Harare City 1, Dynamos 3; Motor Action 0, Triangle 2; Black Rhinos 2, Shabanie Mine 0; Buffaloes 1, Chicken Inn 0; Hwange 0, FC Platinum 1
Log
P W D L F A Pts
Dynamos 20 10 8 2 28 11 38
Harare City 20 11 5 4 31 15 38
Highlanders 20 11 4 5 30 16 37
Caps United 20 10 5 5 29 19 35
FC Platinum 20 9 6 5 24 18 33
Chicken Inn 20 9 4 7 23 23 31
Buffaloes 20 9 1 10 32 33 28
How Mine 20 8 4 8 20 23 28
Shabanie Mine 20 8 3 9 20 24 27
Triangle 20 7 5 8 22 24 26
Black Mambas 20 8 2 10 19 25 26
Black Rhinos 20 5 7 8 21 28 22
Monomotapa 20 6 4 10 21 31 22
Hwange 20 5 6 9 19 21 21
Tripple B 20 4 5 11 17 30 17
Motor Action 20 3 5 12 13 27 14
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