adminFrom Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane
Shabanie Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0)1
ZPC Kariba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
ZPC Kariba’s coach Saul Chaminuka cried foul and felt his side was robbed of victory by the referee during this Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at Maglas yesterday. The visitors, who showed character, had two efforts at goal ruled off-side by Gweru-based referee Thabani Bamala and the decisions left coach Chaminuka fuming.
“We have been robbed we could have won 2-1. I am not so sure if our game is going to develop. I am proud that I have a team of fighters. Shabanie should know that a game ends when the referee has blown the final whistle,” he said.
But ZPC Kariba maintained their unbeaten run and like what Chaminuka said, taught Shabanie Mine that matches are won after the final whistle after they walked away with a precious away point from Maglas yesterday.
ZPC Kariba, who arrived in the mining town on Friday, surprisingly arrived late for the match yesterday and the kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes.
Former CAPS United player Pride Tafirenyika strike in the last seconds of added time and a 49th minute Ashley Mukwena strike was all both sides needed to share the spoils.
Shabanie shot themselves in the foot after having frustrated the visitors for almost 90 minutes and with everyone satisfied that they had three points in the bag when goalkeeper Victor Twaliki and his captain Smart Muchabayiwa lost concentration.
In an effort to kill time, goalkeeper Twaliki dispatched a poor clearance which was intercepted near the centre circle and Artwell Nyamiwa dispatched a long ball back to the Shabanie area.
And when it looked easier to clear, Muchabayiwa took his time choosing to be stylish in clearing the ball.
Tafirenyika made a quick reaction and squeezed the ball past Twaliki to silence the vociferous Shabanie fans.
“I am very disappointed. My goalkeeper made a poor clearance to the centre and we just gave them a point they did not deserve,” said a dejected Shabanie coach John Phiri who lashed at Twaliki after the match. The technical bench should also take the blame for fielding Twaliki in the first place as he is still recovering from injury. Last week he gifted CAPS United with two goals in Harare and yesterday the story was still the same.
Online Reporter