adminPaul Mundandi Zvishavane Correspondent
Shabanie 3-1 Triangle
SHABANIE Mine silenced the doubting Thomases with a sterling performance that won them hearts of many in a Castle Lager Premiership match played in the mining town yesterday. A dark cloud had been cast after the departure of Luke Masomere who joined Buffaloes and some fans who had no faith in the coach, the team and the executive, had changed their allegiance but John Phiri’s men proved their critics wrong.
“I have forgiven those people who were saying I was not good, for they don’t know what they were saying.
“The win was a morale booster for the team and the community and it’s just a start of better things to come. We did not just score goals but they were well taken goals.”
Shabanie scored through Carlos Mesi in the 42nd minute, a strike by Louis Matawu on 61 minutes and an own goal by Triangle defender Jimmy Tigere in the 17th minute was all the hosts needed to collect their first maximum points this season.
Triangle got their face saver from the right boot of Tigere in the 85th minute.
Former Motor Action striker the stocky Mesi born to Mozambican parents exerted pressure on Tigere and in a bid to head the ball to his goalkeeper, he beat Ronald Mudimu all systems out.
The goal was the tonic Shabanie needed as they fought for every ball and looked a bit stronger and hungry for victory than Triangle.
Triangle’s Pasca Manhanga could have equalised for the hosts when he let go a right footer outside the box following a pass from Courage Denias but his effort was blocked by impressive goalkeeper Victor Twaliki for a corner. The visitors however failed to utilise the corner kick.
Mesi then increased the tally for the hosts five minutes later. A good exchange involving Matawu and Zvikomborero Bizeki saw Nelson Merson unleashing a scorching grounder that Mudimu parried back into play.
The rebound was met by the alert Mesi whose effort went past the goalkeeper who was sprawling on the ground.
Shabanie could have increased their tally in the 53rd minute when Daniel Chakupe flighted a defence splitting pass into the area but Allan Tavariswa and Mesi with the goalkeeper already beaten, completely missed the ball before it was cleared for a corner.
Matawu then scored his first goal in Shabanie Mine colours and what a goal it was. The former Motor Action, FC Platinum, Tripple B, Chiredzi and Highlanders striker reacted to a loose ball outside the box and sent a volley that Mudimu never saw.
Tigere who gifted Shabanie with a goal then reduced the arrears when he drove home a corner kick from Manhanga with Shabanie Mine defenders ball watching.
Teams:
Shabanie Mine: V Twaliki, G Murwira, M Nelson, S Muchabaiwa, R Mware, H Muvundi, Z Bizeki, D Chakupe, L Matawu (X Ncube 74th minute),C Mesi (A Mukwenya
80th minute), A Tavarwisa (M Mageja 90th minute).
Triangle: R Mudimu, P Tonha, R Maketo, C Rukwanhi, J Tigere, C Ngondonga, R Kawondera (D Chirambamuriwo), T Chipunza, F Kuswatuka (B Maziwisa 69th minute), P Manhanga, C Denias
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