Andrew
Lovemore Kadzura in RUSAPE
Manica Diamonds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Herentals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
A BITTER Manica Diamonds coach Johanisi Nhumwa blamed questionable refereeing and claimed match officials were fighting in Herentals corner in their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Vengere Stadium yesterday.
“This is not football,” thundered Nhumwa.
“There is no officiating like this.
“Yes, we are going through a bad phase but that is not football.”
Manica Diamonds have been forced to shift base to Vengere after Sakubva in Mutare was condemned by the ZIFA First Instance Board, which is responsible for certifying match venues.
In an otherwise evenly balanced match, Herentals dominated proceedings in the first half, during which the they found the target via a first-minute goal from exciting winger Tafadzwa Jimu.
He took advantage of a miskick by the Gem Boys captain Themba Ndlovu and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Jorum Muchambo.
Two minutes later, Jimu, who was giving Ndlovu and Collins Duwa a tough afternoon, was back again but this time his shot from inside the box went wide.
The Students continued to enjoy a fair share of possession and dictated the pace, while the diamond miners chased shadows.
If their opening period was nightmarish, Manica Diamonds returned an improved lot after Nhumwa’s pep talk.
They piled pressure on Herentals and were duly rewarded after 56 minutes when Liberty Chakoroma connected a cross from Michael Tapera and hit a grounder past Takudzwa Chikosi.
Man-of-the-match Jimu could have thrust Students back in the lead three minutes later, only to see his low shot hit the upright post with Muchambo beaten.
Nhumwa was riled by referee Patrick Kalota’s decision to deny Farai Mugumwa’s 69th-minute headed goal.
Kalota adjudged that Mugumwa had pushed his marker in the build-up to his header. Manica Diamonds are now winless in their last three games.
They went into this encounter on the back of a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Highlanders at Barbourfields last Sunday.
While Nhumwa was seething with anger, Herentals coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziwa praised his charges for a point earned on the road.
“It’s a very important point for us. The boys did well against determined opponents.
“They were using long and high balls against us and we struggled a bit, but we managed to contain them until the end.”
Online Reporter