adminChipangano eased to the next round 7-1 on aggregate after pummelling visiting Jamhuri 4-1 in the second leg of the preliminary round played before a packed but pensive crowd at the Colliery Stadium on Sunday.
Among the crowd was Premier Soccer League president Twine Phiri, Zifa Southern Region secretary Brian Moyo and Caf coaching instructor, who is also the Zambia assistant coach Honour Janza, a close friend to Hwange coach Tennant Chilumba.
“We normally pay them their usual bonuses because as you might be aware, the company does not sponsor the team directly but it is sponsored through the town services department which also has to exercise its other social responsibility programmes like running of schools and internet services,” said Moyo, speaking from Hwange Golf Club soon after the match.
He said the department raised its revenue through rent collections from shops and buildings, running of beer halls and as such special bonuses relied heavily on how the department was running, taking into consideration that football was one of its many babies.
“I am yet to meet the relevant manager for the department responsible but from a company point of view, that is the position. We are obviously excited yes and depending on other factors, I believe something could be done,” said Moyo, who rarely misses a match at the Colliery Stadium.
Upon being asked whether there were any contingency measures to bail out the team in the event that the town services department finds the burden a bit too heavy to carry, especially now that the team will be flying further afield for the next round, Moyo assured the supporters that Hwange would not be stranded.
Chipangano faces Sudanese side El Amal on the weekend of 23-25 March at the Colliery Stadium before flying out for the crucial return leg two weeks later.
On Sunday, the visitors matched their opponents man for man for the better part of the second half before collapsing like a deck of cards in the later stages of the half through goals from Allan Tavarwisa and new skipper Rodwell Chinyengetere.
Chipangano put up a more polished show in the second half, but certainly no way near the beauty which the crowd witnessed a minute into the second half after man-of-the-match Ocean Mpofu let loose a pile driver off a 30m freekick that left goalkeeper Jaffar Talib a bemused spectator.
Mpofu returned to haunt the visitors with a clever lob in the 72nd minute. The visitors pulled one back through their best man on view, pint-sized Ali Nuhu in the 84th minute but by then Hwange secretary Burzil Dube could have long contacted their travel agent and booked a flight to Sudan.
While Chipangano went through, Zimbabwe’s other Caf Confederation representative, Motor Action, crashed out of the competition in humiliating fashion after falling 2-0 to visiting Absa Premiership side Black Leopards at Rufaro Stadium.
Head coach Joey Antipas blamed the defeat on tactical indiscipline on the part of his players.
On Saturday, Caf Champions League representatives FC Platinum announced their entry into the first round in superb style when they handed a Lloyd Mutasa-coached Green Mamba a 4-0 hiding at Mandava Stadium. The Rahman Gumbo-coached side went through 8-2 on aggregate, following a 4-2 win in the first leg two weeks ago.
The platinum boys will now meet crack Sudanese side El Merreikh that boasts of seven national team players, including 2012 African Nations Cup winner, Zambian Jonas Sakuwaha who plays as a winger.
Club football is religiously followed in Sudan and FC Platinum must make full use of their Mandava fortress so as to carry a healthy lead to Sudan, where
Highlanders were pummelled 3-0 a few years ago.
El Merreikh and Al Hilal, home to Edward Sadomba, are the most successful clubs in Sudan with the domestic league being won by either of the sides in the last 19 years.
Gumbo obviously knows what lies ahead as no lead is a guarantee to the next round, having seen his then invincible Bosso in 2000 surrender a 3-0 lead to Cameroonian giants Sable de Batie.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwean champions Dynamos will know by tomorrow their Caf Champions League second round first leg opponents. DeMbare will either meet Zanzibar champions Mafunzo or Mozambican side Muculmano de Maputo, who were supposed to clash over the weekend but had their match pushed forward to tomorrow. The
Mozambicans, who will be at home, carry a healthy 2-0 league from the first leg match.
Online Reporter