adminIshemunyoro Chingwere
Harare City . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2
Flame Lilly. . . . . . . . .. . . .(1) 2
HARARE CITY fans demanded the immediate firing of coach Taurai Mangwiro after watching the municipal side play to their eighth draw in 16 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches at Rufaro yesterday.
City midfielder James Jam scored a brace, which was sandwiched by Flame Lilly’s James Chivasa and Brighton Chandisaita’s penalty, before being sent off for remonstrating with the referee’s decision to award the prison wardens a spot kick.
The spotlight however fell on Mangwiro after the match as irate fans sang songs denigrating the coach with the police battling to push them away from City’s team bus.
“I don’t know where the issue of pressure is coming from. I am not under pressure because our target has always been a top six finish and I think we are well on course,” said Mangwiro when asked if he was not feeling the heat.
“We wanted maximum points and I think we had done well until a decision was given against us at a time when we were trying to consolidate our grip on the match.
“I am yet to know what really happened with Jam resulting in the red card but it’s understandable because he had scored a brace and was trying to defend his goals.”
Flame Lily’s Chivasa announced his arrival onto the big stage with a goal ten minutes into the match, pouncing on a loose ball to beat an exposed Tafadzwa Dube in goals for the hosts.
After the interval Mangwiro pulled out an out of sorts Honey Chimutimunzeve for Osborn Mukuradare and with barely a minute on the field Mukuradare did well to set up Jam whose powerful shot was too good for Prosper Chigumba.
With twenty minutes to play, a fired up Tino Kadewere outpaced Flame Lilly defenders wide on the left, waited for support and delightfully found Jam who responded with another well taken shot.
City’s celebrations were, however, short lived as midfielder Tendai Samanja handled in the box and referee Norman Matemera rightfully pointed to the spot on 75 minutes.
The seemingly ageless Chandisaita sent Dube the wrong way.
Flame Lilly coach Backlyfield Chivenga, who is yet to taste defeat since taking over the reins from Nesbert Saruchera, felt his charges deserved maximum points.
“Getting away with a point is not bad but I think we deserved a better result,” said Chivenga.
Teams
Harare City: T Dube, D Kutyauripo, D Nyenye, T Ndhlovu, C Dickson, T Samanja, J Jam, B Maglasi, (W Manondo 64th), M Vengesayi, H Chimutimunzeve (O Mukuradare 46th), T Kadewere (A Chivheya 92nd )
Flame Lilly: P Chigumba, G Phiri, B Chayambuka, E Kopeni, B Chandisaita, T Huwa, E Madhanaga (P Musaka 63rd), M Muponda, V Mukudo, P Chinyama (M Chigora 74th), J Chivasa (M Demera 58th)
Online Reporter