adminAll seemed not to go well for Hwange who came to the pre-match meeting at 1300hrs instead of the scheduled 1030hrs, a thing which irked the sponsors.
Away from the madness the asbestos miners got their all-important goal from the right boot of Pervington Zimunya. What a goal it was!
Leading goal scorer Nelson Mazivisa was fouled outside the box by Hwange defender Aaron Katebe and the impressive Harare referee Nomore Musundire awarded the hosts a free kick.
Zimunya curled in a beauty that Hwange goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda never saw and it was a replica of the free kick he scored against the same goalkeeper last Tuesday in a Castle Lager Premiership match the hosts won 2-1.
“I had a repeat because on Tuesday some fans were not present and I wanted them to watch something close to the goal that I scored,” boasted the 22-year-old former Masvingo United midfielder.
The scoreline however does little justice to the performance of the Chinda Boys who were all over the show over a stubborn Hwange.
Mazivisa could have opened the scoring as early as the 18th minute when he was fed by the hard working Tarisai Rukanda in the box. The prolific striker beat David Boriwondo but with Timothy Sibanda off the line he shot wide.
Two minutes later Mazivisa failed to make amends when he found himself face to face with Sibanda but much to the surprise of everyone in the stadium he shot wide.
Shabanie continued to show no mercy for the visitors and in the 41st minute Sibanda failed to handle a goalbound shot from Zimunya and he was lucky that it trickled out for a corner which Shabanie failed to utilise.
Hwange, who had Katebe, Rodwell Chinyengetere, Tongai Mamina and Tawanda Mareya outstanding, nearly equalised in the 56th minute. Chinyengetere flighted a long ball that caught the Shabanie defence unawares and Mareya’s firm header was saved by goalkeeper Victor Twaliki who was outstanding between the posts yesterday.
Tenant Chilumba, the Hwange coach, praised his players after the defeat.
“I am happy that my team played very well despite the defeat. I was happy with the second half. We are going through a bad patch and we also conceded a silly goal. I give Shabanie credit because it was a cup game,” he said.
His counterpart Luke Masomere was over the moon.
“Earlier on I had said I was blessed. I am happy with the spirit shown by my players who rely on teamwork. It was a sweet victory and my target was going past the first round which I managed to do. Pervington (Zimunya) scored as a result of teamwork. I am now going to prepare very hard for the match against FC Platinum,” said Masomere.
Zimunya was voted man of the match.
Teams
Shabanie Mine: V Twaliki, P Zimunya, G Mchiwa (K Kwashi 91st minute), P Sithole, R Sibanda, B Mbavarira, E Phiri, T Rukanda (C Masocha 89th minute), R Mware, N Maziwisa, T Mombeshora
Hwange: T Sibanda, D Boriwondo, O Mpofu, R Chinyengetere, N Siwela (M Mungadze 59th minute), W Mhango, T Mamina (A Tavarwisa 69th minute), T Mareya, M Longwe (D Kamunhenga 59th minute), G Ndlovu, A Katebe
Online Reporter