Shabanie Mine beat Black Mambas

A 29th minute penalty by Pervington Zimunya and an own goal by Mambas defender Paul Marazanye was all the asbestos miners needed to collect maximum points. The match was hanging in the balance after the home side’s players boycotted camp on Saturday night over the non-payment of their winning bonuses and went back home only to regroup at 11am yesterday.

After having lunch, they advised their executive that they were not going to play and a meeting was held which lasted until 2:45pm.
The team did not even have the time to warm-up at their own stadium and upon their arrival the match kicked off with fans shouting to the responsible authorities to give the players their winning bonuses.

The players are owned the winning bonuses for the four games they won. Apart from the problems, the asbestos miners made their intentions known as early as the 21st minute when their man-of-the-moment Tafadzwa Mombeshora had the ball at the back of the nets. His effort was, however, ruled out for off-side but that did not remove the glamour for the man who was celebrating his birthday.

Erea Phiri, who had a good afternoon, won the ball near the centre circle and raced towards the Mambas goal area, leaving some defenders for dead and when he got into the penalty box he was brought down by defender Proud Khumalo and the impressive Gweru referee Thomas Masaa pointed to the spot in the 29th minute. Pervington Zimunya took the responsibility of sending goalkeeper Tonderai Mateyaunga the wrong way.

The former Masvingo midfielder could have doubled his tally in the 36th minute when he connected Mashayamombe’s cross but he directed his effort wide with the Mambas defenders in sixes and sevens. After the breather, Rowland Makiwa was introduced for Zimunya and his first touch brought smiles on the faces of the Shabanie Mine faithful.

The former Masvingo striker reacted to a pass from Peter Muzondo and raced towards goal on the right before sending a cross in the box that saw Mambas defender Paul Marazanye beating his own goalkeeper in the 47th minute.