adminFrom Thupeyo Muleya in Beitbridge
Tripple B……………………………………………..0
Harare city…………………………………………..0HARARE City coach Bigboy Mawiwi was once again a victim of fotoball superstition after he was sprinkled with urine as the Castle Lager Premiership log leaders were held by Tripple B at Dulibadzimu yesterday.
Mawiwi’s shirt was splashed with urine in the 33rd minute by a rowdy Tripple B supporter, who was standing behind the perimeter fence.
This not the first time that Mawiwi has had urine poured on him after FC Platinum fans manhandled him during their meeting in the first half of the season at Mandava.
In yesterday’s match the hosts, Tshintsha Magiya, had the upper hand in the first half as their opponents were failing to adapt to the hot weather and the debutants only have themselves to blame after they failed to convert most of the chances they created in that period. The Beitbridge outfit’s new singing Makai Kawashu nearly put his team in the lead in the fourth minute but his effort went wide when he was left with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Harare City tried to grab an early lead in the 15th minute but Martin Vengesai’s shot was well collected by Tapiwa Mafunga. In the last 20 minutes of the opening half, the game was swinging from one end to the other but the two teams’ strikers proved shy in front of goal.
The combination of Lloyd Chiwaridzo and Alick Marime had the visitors’ defence busy in a brief five minute spell from the 25th to the 30th minute, but they were just unlucky as they could not find the target.
The Sunshine Boys tried to capitalise on counter attacks, which were easily thwarted by the Tripple B rearguard, well marshalled by Oscar Chove and Ephraim Mwinga.
Despite the unruly attack on Mawiwi, Harare City soldiered on and decided to pursue the issue after the match.
City looked determined to snatch the lead in the second half but the trio of James Madora, Crybert Muvuti and Vengesai kept shooting wide. In the 55th minute, Marime tried to be stylish and score through and overhead kick which went wide from a Maxwell Mavhuto corner. Mawiwi tried to boost his strike force when he introduced Warriors midfielder Silas Songani, who did not waste time as he made his presence felt after sending in a 25 metre rocket that forced Mafunga to concede a corner. Tripple B coach — Peter Manoti — said the draw against the log leaders would boost morale in his camp.
He said this charges had failed to rise to the occasion in the first period during which they wasted a lot of chances.
“It is encouraging that we have picked a point against the log leaders. It’s a morale booster and it shows that we are equal to the task and can match most of our opponents.
“However, we cannot talk about fighting relegation now because our strategy is to collect maximum points in all our remaining matches,” Manoti said.
Mawiwi said the match was fair although he complained that the hosts had tried to employ all sorts of dirty tactics on his team.
“We managed to pick a point in such a hostile environment and I am happy that the team played very well after several weeks of uncertainty about this match.
“You will also note that we arrived here at around 13.30hrs but the hosts refused to open the changing rooms for us, we were only allowed entry at 1400hrs. I am disappointed that one of their supporters sprinkled urine on my T-Shirt, I am going to take the issue up with the police,” Mawiwi said.
Online Reporter