adminFrom Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
Hwange 0-2 ZPC Kariba
ZPC Kariba continued with their fairy tale unbeaten run in the premiership when they electrocuted the coalminers in their own backyard in a match played at the Colliery Stadium yesterday.
Two first half goals by Artwell Nyamiwa (22nd minute) and veteran Limited Chikafa twelve minutes later, ensured the power generators continued floating in glory as the season inches towards the halfway mark.
Even the absence of head coach Saul Chaminuka and his assistant Godfrey Tamirepi from the technical bench could not disturb the league debutants’ rhythm as it became crystal clear that ZPC Kariba are determined in writing their own piece of history this year.
At the end of an afternoon that went horribly wrong for stand-in coach Brian Njovu, it was the coalminers who were left licking their wounds as the wheels are surely coming off in their quest to land the first ever league crown.
Losing three games in a row is not a pleasing statistic by any standards and the look on the faces of the passionate home fans told a big story of pain and anguish after the match.
Both teams started the match with a lot of running with the home side getting the first realistic chance in the 10th minute when in-form Evans Rusike made a darting run on the right flank before releasing Isaac Masame who disappointed by directing his effort to the birds.
Not to be outdone, the gritty power generators launched their first onslaught a few minutes later when midfield magician Pride Tafirenyika released Chikafa whose dangerous hard and low cross intended for a well positioned Nyamiwa was smothered by goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya.
In the 20th minute, another Tafirenyika magic in the middle of the park saw him releasing an onrushing Moses Makanje who however produced a lame effort which never bothered Mawaya.
Hwange’s Rodwell Chinyengetere had a good opportunity to put Hwange into the lead after Makanje’s poor shot but he shocked everyone by completely missing a delicate Masame cross inside the ZPC Kariba box to let the visitors off the hook.
ZPC Kariba then raced into the lead in the 24th minute after a long ball flighted from the midfield saw Nyamiwa outpacing lanky David Boriwondo before unleashing a left footed volley which beat an outdrawn Mawaya all systems out.
The hosts tried to level matters ten minutes from the breather after impressive Farai Vimisai broke loose on the right and sent in a defence splitting cross which was well connected by striker Newman Sianchali but the young player failed to beat goalkeeper Tendai Hove from close range.
Hardly a minute after Sianchali was denied, ZPC Kariba sent the coalminers to the electric chair with a second goal by Chikafa which came as a result of two centre backs Boriwondo and Maqhawe Mpofu, preferred ahead of captain Gerald Ndlovu, sleeping on duty.
Two quick exchange of passes by Tafirenyika and Makanje at the edge of the box saw the latter releasing Chikafa who was allowed all the time in the world to control the ball, turn and drill home under no challenge.
Mpofu was spared more agony in the heart of defence as he was stretchered off moments after the goal and was replaced by the captain Ndlovu who found the damage already done.
Njovu must have read the riot act in the dressing room at half time as the coalminers came back charging like a wounded buffalo but they continued knocking on locked doors as the defence, well marshalled by Hwange born Ephraim Mwinga and Peter Muzondo, repelled every attack directed at them.
Just five minutes after the restart, anchorman Andrew Tshuma and left back Munyaradzi Mungadzi embarked on a lovely two-man move but the beneficiary of their effort, Rusike, missed the left upright by a few inches with Hove beaten clean.
Sensing that his day in the hot seat was turning into a big nightmare, Njovu dragged out Sianchali in the 63rd minute for veteran Gilbert Zulu who tried all his best but to no avail.
Vimisai, who was doing all the running for the home team, was surprisingly pulled out twenty minutes from time for speed merchant Tafara Chese but the double change could not erase Hwange’s misery.
Chipangano’s last chance to pull one goal back then came in the 80th minute when Chinyengetere, who had a quiet game by his standards, roasted two ZPC Kariba defenders on the left flank before laying a sitter for Masame who produced a wild shot only seen at boozers matches to seal Hwange’s fate.
Njovu wore a brave face in the aftermath of a morale shattering loss at home.
“We let ourselves down by conceding those first half goals as we ended up chasing the game. We tried to come back but it was not our day but this is done and dusted, who says we can’t win the next game? We will soldier on, we don’t run away from the bullet,” said Njovu, who had declared to this reporter during the half time break that his boys would recover from the two-goal deficit.
ZPC Kariba assistant coach Oliver Mataba was all smiles after the game.
“We read Hwange’s game against Caps and came very prepared. Most teams underrated us as we came from Division One but it will be a long time before we lose a game.
“More surprises will continue coming from these boys who are hardworkers,” said the elated Mataba.
Teams
Hwange: T Mawaya; M Mungadze; P Dube; D Boriwondo; M Mpofu (G Ndlovu 40th min); A Tshuma; R Chinyengetere; I Masame; E Rusike; N Sianchali (G Zulu 63rd min); F Vimisai (T Chese 69th min)
ZPC Kariba: T Hove; P Muzondo; M Makanje (N Mukwezaramba 90th min; E Mwinga; A Nyamiwa; T Munyanduri; P Tafirenyika; D Phiri (T Chikede 75th min); T Rantohokaone; L Chikafa (T Nyamandwe 86th min); D Dauda
derick.khumalo