Chronicle Editor
Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
HWANGE head coach, Bigboy Mawiwi, believes that the crucial 1-0 away victory against How Mine is a clear indication that the coalminers are prepared to move mountains in their quest to avoid the dreaded drop at the end of the 2017 Castle Lager Premiership campaign.
The win, thanks to a late penalty converted by giant defender Crispen Dicksen, meant that Chipangano have taken six very crucial points in their last two league games, having beaten Bulawayo City at home 1-0 before claiming How Mine’s scalp.
In an interview before an afternoon training session yesterday, Mawiwi vowed that his charges are prepared to die on the pitch in their last six matches.
“I have always repeatedly said that we are very much alive as far as staying in the league is concerned and every player and member of the technical staff is ready for this huge challenge to save the club from relegation.”
“We are taking each game as it comes and we are not going into matches under any pressure because of the position on the log knowing that with unity of purpose we can rise up the table to safety, ” said Mawiwi.
“The How Mine game was a tough one, but I am fully aware of How Mine coach Kelvin Kaindu’s type of play having met his team several times before so we went into the match very prepared. I hope that with focus and high levels of determination among the players we can continue picking up crucial points when we meet Yadah Stars this Wednesday at home,” added Mawiwi.
Mawiwi heaped praises on the team hierarchy led by chairman Butholezwe Dube for organising for the club supporters to travel for the How Mine game.
He has said every game is now like a cup final for Chipangano and highlighted how he has taken time to go around the soccer crazy community interacting with fans to update them on the team’s direction as the season reaches the business end of proceedings.
In a separate interview, Hwange supporters’ chairperson Maybin Dizomba said the fans are fully behind the team and the coaches.
“Hwange is a brand in Zimbabwe football and they deserve to be in the nation’s top flight league. The fans will rally behind the coaches and the players whom we believe will save the team from relegation.”
“I am very sure that this Wednesday we will get maximum points so that we continue with the huge fight. The league will lose some gloss if Hwange is absent,” said Dizomba.
The miners play Yadah Stars (home) then travel to Caps United before a home tie against Highlanders. They will then travel to the Midlands to meet Shabanie Mine. They host Harare City before closing the season with an away trip to ZPC Kariba.
They are currently on 29 points from 28 games and lie precariously third from bottom. — @tobymandox
Online Reporter