ZPC Kariba hold How Mine

Sports Reporter
ZPC Kariba ……………..(0) 2
How Mine ……………….(1) 2STUBBORN Premiership debutants ZPC Kariba staged a late, late dramatic comeback to salvage a draw and remain unbeaten when they held high flying How Mine in a battle of veterans at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare yesterday.

How Mine who moved to the top of the table for the first time this term, thought they had wrapped up the game at 2-0 with five minutes left but ZPC Kariba scored twice through Pride Tafirenyika and unheralded left winger Trevor Chikede to snatch a memorable draw.

ZPC Kariba remain fourth, two points adrift of How Mine who are now on 17 points and lead the pack at least until this afternoon.

When almost everyone in the stadium, probably including the ZPC Kariba players themselves thought the game was over, the exciting Tafirenyika pulled one back when he scrambled the ball home from inside the six-yard box in the 89th minute.

Two minutes later, the diminutive Chikede found himself unmarked near the penalty spot after the How Mine central defence temporary went to sleep and rifled home the equaliser that stunned the visitors.

The leveller left How Mine coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube furious with almost everyone including the fourth official whom he attacked with unprintable verbal insults. He was also involved in an exchange of harsh words with ZPC Kariba team manager Partson Ndabambi and had to be restrained by some members of his backroom staff.

The bulky Ncube felt Gweru referee Thomas Masasa should have blown for an infringement on his player which he argued happened before the loose ball fell to Chikede.

Aside from the post match controversy, How Mine played some silky football orchestrated from the midfield by the ageless Menard Mupera and raced into a 10th minute lead when linkman Edmore Muzanenhamo’s 20-yard drive was too much for ZPC Kariba keeper Tendai Hove.

Top scorer Kuda Musharu took his tally to eight just six minutes after the restart when he headed home a corner from Muzanenhamo before Chikurupati crumbled dramatically in the dying stages.

“We nearly switched off the power station but lucky enough, they had generators in the form of the referees,” a furious Ncube said.