adminMukudzei Chingwere in Zvishavane
Shabanie Mine . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Ngezi Platinum . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
AFTER 539 minutes of action and just a minute shy of completing a six-match Castle Lager Premier Soccer League winning streak, pacesetters, Ngezi Platinum conceded their first goal and lost their 100 percent record at Maglas yesterday.
Shabanie Mine became the first team in the top-flight this season to find a way past the Ngezi defence when David Temwanjira cancelled Terrence Dzvukamanja’s 37th minute goal and also forced the visitors to their first share of the spoils this year.
The goal was celebrated across town at Mandava, the home of rivals FC Platinum’s home, as much as it was at Maglas as the two platinum miners are having a huge say in the early stages of this championship marathon.
Coach Tonderai Ndiraya was disappointed that his charges dropped their first points of the season and blamed his charges for losing concentration at a crucial stage of the game.
“I am disappointed because we conceded a silly goal, you could actually see it from the bench that David was not picked and you cannot do that.
“I think it’s an issue of concentration you cannot do that . . . I am disappointed we dropped points we could not have dropped we actually created a lot of chances.
“But all the same it was a good game of football we created a number of chances Clive came face to face with the goalkeeper and failed to convert.
“In the end you tend to rue the missed chances, but such is the game, Maglas is a difficult venue to come and get points, I felt we had done enough to get points, but unfortunately we dropped two,” said Ndiraya.
Shabanie coach Takesure Chiragwi’s men put up a splendid show in the second half and showed they really wanted it more despite trailing on the score sheet.
Although there had been talk that the players this week missed three days of training and had even threatened to boycott the match, that never showed once the encounter got underway.
It also emerged that the Shabanie players were only convinced to take to the field after businessman and former club executive member Dumezweni Mawite Mpofu intervened and paid them part of their dues.
Chiragwi was happy his charges managed to stop Ngezi, but declined to discuss the issues around the players’ payment.
“We really need to appreciate the fighting spirit of these boys and courage, that was an effective cross and it paid.
“In the first half our team was chasing the game, but in the second half it was better, the good thing is that we are adding points to our tally.
“That we are playing well against the so called big teams is because of the fighting spirit, it is not about Chiragwi, but Shabanie as an institution.
“I do not prefer to talk about the payments my job is to coach the game and off the field of play there are some people to respond to that.
“We will continue working hard as a team and improve the way we play every time,” said Chiragwi.
The visitors’ first meaningful chance at goal came after half an hour of action when exciting winger Michael Charamba fired a shot which was spilled by Petros Moyo in goal for the hosts, but the defence was alert to push the rebound out for a corner.
Ndiraya’s men surged ahead in the 37th minute after Dzukamanja volleyed in a cross from Charamba.
After the breather Chiragwi’s pep talk seemed to have spurred the hosts into more self-belief that they could stage a comeback.
In the fourth minute of the second period Maxwell Murimi sent in a cross, but Richard Kawondera missed a fine chance with the goalkeeper exposed.
Twelve minutes before full time the visitors got a chance to extend their lead, but Clive Augusto missed the target after a brilliant feed from Charamba.
Shabanie then levelled the scores in added time when Temwanjira rose highest to head home Ali Maliselo’s corner.
Teams:
Shabanie Mine: P Moyo, L Manyande, B Mukundu, J Nyabinde, T Ajana (F Muza 67th minute), M Murimi, D Makuwe (K Dlamini 78th minute), R Kawondera (R Pakamisa 62nd minute), D Temwanjira, A Maliselo, N Mpofu
Ngezi Platinum: D Bernard, K Bulaji, L Chakoroma, K Murera, W Mukanga, T Dzvukamanja (T Mabvura 67th minute ), C Augusto, M Charamba (D Teguru 79th minute), X Moyo (M Mushonga 65th minute), F Mukarati, T Chipunza
Online Reporter