admin
From Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane
Shabanie Mine…………(0)1
Monomotapa…………….(1)1LUKE “Vahombe” Masomere, the self proclaimed “Doctor of Football” in Zimbabwe yesterday hinted on leaving Shabanie Mine following a poor performance by the asbestos miners who were even lucky to escape with a draw in this Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at Maglas.
Monoz went into the lead as early as the 4th minute through a strike by Carlos Messi and Shabanie equalised in the 75th minute through Talbot Mtombeni.
The miners, who came into the match having lost to Chicken Inn and Hwange, were a pale shadow of the side that beat Dynamos and FC Platinum to lift the BancABC Sup8r Cup and their performance was just uninspiring.
Shabanie Mine might even fail to defend the cup as they might fail to finish in the top eight with Triangle, Hwange and Black Mambas getting convincing victories at the weekend.
Shabanie Mine occupies 10th position on the log with 33 points though they still have 15 points to play for in the remaining five games.
“I am appealing to the fans to support me and the team until the end of the season when I am going to leave the club. It’s just a pity that people don’t understand what going on at the club. My team is not very strong but I have been trying to get some results.
“It was a disappointing draw although I wanted a positive result but injuries and suspensions to my key players affected us. If I miss one player we struggle and its fortunate that we drew otherwise Monoz could have won the match as they were far much the better side,” Masomere said after the match.
Samson Gondwe, the Shabanie Mine team manager, was very much disappointed with the draw yesterday and was calling for the removal of the coach when Masomere was responding to questions from the press.
Some sections of fans felt the coach was no longer giving his best to the team with some questioning his team selection but the coach put up a very brave face, promising better things to come before the end of the season.
Shabanie Mine missed Caleb Masocha, Phillip Sithole and Farai Mususunye through injury and Pervington Zimunya, who is serving suspension after getting his marching orders following the goal he scored against CAPS United.
Monomotapa, who are fighting relegation, could have easily won the match had it not been for the heroic saves from goalkeeper Victor Twaliki but the goalkeeper had in the 4th minute gifted them with a goal.
A harmless looking ball from the left from Hilary Mugoniwa saw the big Shabanie Mine goalkeeper fumbling the ball and Messi had the easiest of tasks of placing the ball home.
That was the only effort in the first half that was worth writing home about. Shabanie Mine came back after the breather a changed team and Frankson Bushire could have levelled the scores but his effort was saved by Monomotapa reserve goalkeeper Fidias Chifamba in the 52nd minute following a cross from Blessed Mbavarira.
The miners, however, felt hard done by the Bulawayo referee Mlindeli Ndebele in the 71st minute. Substitute Nigel Hunga first touch in the match saw the promising striker being fouled by the Monoz goalkeeper but Ndebele, who was close to the scene, did not entertain the appeal for a penalty and waved play on.
It then needed the brilliance of former Pamushana High pupil Talbot Mtombeni, who was full of running the whole afternoon, to get the equaliser for the home side.
Substitute Solomon Ndlovu, who was introduced for Norman Maroto, roasted two Monomotapa defenders on the right and as he charged into the box he lobbed the ball to Mtombeni who out-jumped the visitors defence to send a firm header past Hunga.
“I am very excited that I scored my first goal in the Premiership. I dedicate it to Pamushana High, my family and the Zvishavane community. I also thank the coaches for showing their trust in me by giving me the nod to be in the starting line-up,” said Mtombeni.
Monomotapa assistant coach Conrad Nyamambi was happy with the result and saluted Masomere for reading the game well.
“We did well but when Masomere introduced Ndlovu (Solomon) he brought stability in the midfield. I hope we are going to survive relegation but I still feel that this was our only chance of beating Shabanie Mine but our defence failed to handle the pressure,” he said.
Online Reporter