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From Paul Mundandi in Triangle Triangle 3-1 Chiredzi
TRIANGLE won the first edition of the Lowveld derby when they dismissed Chiredzi United in a thrilling Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Gibbo Stadium yesterday.
Lameck Nhamo, who was given the nod by coach Biggie Zuze since returning from injury, was given the nod and he paid the faith by scoring a hattrick which saw him collecting the match ball.
The former Masvingo United, Victoria FC player was on target in the 49th, 77th and 80th minute, sending Triangle fans into a frenzy.
“I want the Golden Boot this season and I am targeting 20 goals. I am not going to stop scoring and I am over the moon today since it was my first match this year as I had been sidelined by injury,” said the stocky player.
Nhamo beat Chiredzi goalkeeper Claudius Makore with a simple shot in the 49th minute. Praise Tonha weaved his way past the Chiredzi defence and sent a defence splitting pass that saw the forward placing the ball into the nets past the advancing visitors’ goalkeeper.
He was again on target when Arnold Ncube, the Bikita-based referee, awarded the hosts a penalty after Fidelis Mangezi had handled in the area.
Pasca Manhanga, who had a good afternoon, saw his effort to the left saved for a corner by the visitors’ goalkeeper.
The resultant corner kick which was taken by Tonha saw Nhamo releasing a powerful shot that Makore never saw after his defenders had failed to clear their lines.
Nhamo then finished the match as a contest in the 80th minute.
Substitute Blessing Maziwisa threaded a pass to Tonha which he failed to deal with in the box and the alert Nhamo raced from the left side and released a powerful right footer that Makore only managed to collect from the nets.
Nhamo was then provider in the 86th minute when he passed the ball to substitute Brian Juwayeyi in the box but his effort crashed on the upright post.
Juwayeyi missed another golden scoring opportunity when he won the ball in the box, with the visitors’ goalkeeper and his defence at the wrong side of action, he blasted his effort over the bar with a yawning goal before him.
Chiredzi, who were hard done by the referee who denied them a clear penalty in the fourth minute when Jimmy Tigere handled under pressure, got their face saver in the 57th minute and what a goal it was.
The visitors were awarded a freekick outside the box. Munyaradzi Chiwara took the responsibility and his thunderbolt hit the inside of the crossbar before trickling into the nets with goalkeeper Ronald Mudimu a mere spectator.
“It’s a pity that some clubs are allowed to play basketball in the box. The officials failed to officiate fairly and some clubs are being helped. I am not a crybaby but the kind of officiating I witnessed this afternoon affects Zimbabwean teams when they play with international clubs.
“They were awarded a penalty and it was a right decision but we were denied. Some of these officials are destroying football. We could have punished them in the first half when we had a lot of ball possession but such is football,” said Moses “Bambo” Chunga.
His counterpart Zuze was on cloud nine.
“We worked on the areas we got it wrong against Shabanie last week. We created chances today and utilised them. It is good news for the community, the players and executive, everyone is happy.
“I am now focusing on the Hwange game and the win helped us to psyche up the players though we could have won by a wider margin,” said Zuze.
Teams:
Triangle: R. Mudimu, P Tonha, B Chimwamuchere, C Ngondonga, J Tigere, C Rukwanhi, T Chipunza, P Manhanga (B Juwaweyi 86th minute), C Denias, T Chitora (B Maziwisa 76th minute), L Nhamo.
Chiredzi: C Makore, T Mpungu, B Pamhirwa, L Manyande, W Kamudyariwa, F Mangezi, A Gwatidzo (D Temwajira 65th minute), T Dephistara (N Maroto 82nd minute), R Nenzou, J Dzingai, M Chiwara.
Online Reporter