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Tobias Mandoreba, in HWANGE
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
ZPC Kariba .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
HWANGE finally remembered how to win a football match at their beloved fortress of Colliery Stadium after they “switched off” 10-man ZPC Kariba in a lively Castle Lager Premier Soccer tie played before a bumper crowd yesterday afternoon.
Before yesterday’s game, it had been a nightmarish spell at home for the coalminers as they had gone for three games without a goal and a win after losing 3-0 to Bulawayo Chiefs, playing a goalless draw with Triangle before a morale-shattering 0-1 loss to Manica Diamonds.
But the nerves were calmed as early as the 11th minute yesterday as attacking midfielder Solomon Sithole hit the back of the nets after latching on to a freekick from youthful Blessing Ngoma.
Fanuel Shoko almost pulled a goal back for the power generators in the 28th minute only for goalkeeper Wellington Muuya, who started ahead of first choice Nedrick Madeya, to produce a stunning finger-tip acrobatic save.
ZPC Kariba’s world crumbled on them at the half hour mark as impressive playmaker Leeroy Murape was shown a red card by Bulawayo referee Nelson Meke for abusive language.
However, to their credit, ZPC Kariba made mockery of that numerical disadvantage as they were on level terms seven minutes from the breather when Shepherd Gadzikwa turned the ball into his own net following a treacherous corner kick by Fanuel Shoko.
They went on to threaten to cause an upset throughout the contest with some good build ups that left the home fans restless. Gadzikwa was to turn to hero from villain 20 minutes from time as he ghosted from the blind side to poke the ball home from a cross by substitute Canaan Nkomo, who had come in for Blessing Ngoma in the 50th minute.
Five minutes after Gadzikwa’s goal, free kick specialist Marcelline Mlilo could have made it 3 -1 only for his stunning effort to crash against the crossbar with the goalkeeper a beaten man.
Hwange head coach Nation Dube was relieved after the game.
“This is a huge and pleasing result which I dedicate to our passionate fans and also to my colleagues who are out of the country for a course, as we planned together and we were optimistic that we would finally get it right at home. This gives the boys the confidence going forward,” he said.
ZPC Kariba assistant coach Newsome Mtema, standing in for head coach Luke Masomere who was in the terraces, praised his boys despite the loss.
“We failed to defend well as we conceded soft goals and the biggest undoing was the red card. But credit to the boys for responding well tactically and with more precision we could have even won the game,” said Mtema.
HWANGE: W Muuya; E Zulu; K Shiyandindi (J Mumpande 50th minute); B Rendo; L Sibanda; T Goredema; B Ngoma (C Nkomo 50th minute); S Gadzikwa; S Sithole (C Tshuma 87th minute); M Mlilo (E Nkhulungo 87th minute); E Gwitima (A Richard 55th minute)
ZPC KARIBA: T Chilenga; B Mutukure; K Madima; M Diro; J Sibanda; T Pio (N Chipunza 77th minute); F Shoko; C Muleya; L Murape; F Dhemere (A Karengesha 90th minute); M Demera (S Makawa 77th minute).
Online Reporter