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Gift Mbweti

Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
Hwange 2-0 Border Strikers

GOALS by midfielder Innocent Mucheneka and red hot striker Gift Mbweti virtually condemned the self-proclaimed “doctor” of Zimbabwean football Luke Masomere’s Border Strikers’ side to the second tier league for next season.

The Beitbridge side went into yesterday’s Castle Lager Premiership match at the Colliery Stadium firmly rooted at the bottom and Hwange were in no mood to do them any favours, as coach Mebelo Njekwa was equally under pressure from restless home fans following the team’s bad patch in recent games.

The coalminers had a brilliant first half and could have buried the visitors with an avalanche of goals had their strikers been sharp in front of goal.

Hwange camped in the Border Strikers’ half and eventually surged ahead in the 17th minute, courtesy of Mucheneka who hit the target from inside the box after Mbweti had roasted defender Junior Dhlelelwa. His cross was chested into the path of Mucheneka by Farai Vimisai for the midfielder to stab home.

Three minutes later, Border Strikers launched their first attack from the right flank led by David Tito, who went on a good run before releasing striker Farai Mususunye, whose shot was saved by teenage Hwange goalkeeper Taimon Mvula.

Border Strikers’ keeper Talent Sande then produced the save of the afternoon on the half hour mark to deny Hwange a second goal when he acrobatically dived to his right to make a stunning one-handed save to deny Hwange defender Obert Moyo’s headed effort.

The goal to calm Hwange fans’ nerves came a minute from full time when Mbweti out-jumped the Border Strikers’ defenders to head home a long throw in from young defender Andrew Tandi.

Njekwa was a happy man after the match.

“We were under pressure before the game as we had not been playing well of late. Yes, we won, but if ever there was an award for missing goal scoring opportunities, we would easily get it, as we were supposed to wrap up the game early today,” he said.

Masomere wore a brave face and declared that his team would continue to fight to the end.

“We lost here today and I can say Hwange had a good first half while we dominated proceedings in the second, but we missed several chances to come back into the game. Anything can happen in the league; we are still in and we will fight to the end as far as relegation is concerned,” said Masomere.

Teams

Hwange: T Mvula; P Dube; O Moyo; A Tandi; A Tshuma; W Munorwei; F Vimisai(C Muleya 67th min); P Mpelele; I Mucheneka; G Mbweti; G Zulu

Border Strikers: T Sande; S Muzumba; E Mwinga; M Variso; G Mukambi; J Dhlelelwa; C Mutendebvure(J Borges 86th min); D Tito; M Chirape(L Gent 35th min); H Chikosa(T Kalunga 75th min).

@tobymandox