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Lovemore Zigara Midlands Correspondent
Chapungu 0-0 Hwange
CHAPUNGU and Hwange shared points following a lethargic display at Ascot Stadium in a Castle Lager Premiership match yesterday. Save for a speculative effort by Xolani Ncube towards the twilight stages of the first half, which was easily dealt with by Timothy Sibanda who was between the sticks for Hwange, there was nothing to write home about in the first stanza.

The effort by Ncube was the only shot at goal during the first half.

“Waru Waru” gaffer, John Nyikadzino was the first to admit that his charges did not come to the party and blamed the poor display on fatigue following his side’s two nil win against ZPC Kariba at the same venue in a mid-week fixture.

“To me it’s a point earned than two points lost. Today we were never in the game something which I can attribute to fatigue since we played a game against ZPC Kariba on Wednesday and this somehow affected the team. I’m however happy for the boys since we’ve gone for three games without defeat after having a poor start to the season,” he said.

His counterpart, Nation Dube who is still to collect maximum points in the league so far this season was equally satisfied with a point.

Said the Chipangano mentor: “These are points we’re collecting but we’re still hunting for our first win of the season. I think my players did well it’s unfortunate that we aren’t winning.”

The second half somehow brought some life in the game after Nyikadzino brought in Marvellous Dikinya for Ncube in the 46th minute.

It was Dikinya who had the first real chance of the match in the 65th minute when his shot from inside the box was deflected by a Hwange defender for a corner.

Seven minutes later Rodwell Mhlanga had a crack at goal after being set up by Gift Phiri but Sibanda was equal to the task.

The visitors also had their chances but on the occasions they made forays in the enemy territory, they found the defence marshalled by Collen Kwaramba unyielding or Chapungu goalkeeper, Roy Mazingi uncompromising.

However, with just a minute left Chipangano’s Evans Rusike appeared to have been hacked down in the box but referee Thabani Bamala ruled that the Hwange striker had dived in the box much to the chagrin of Dube and his technical team.

In the end both sides appeared to be content with a draw as they played a cautious game in the five minute stoppage time.

Teams
Chapungu: R Mazingi, C Kwaramba, H Mugoniwa, M Machingambi, B Zabula, X Ncube (M Dikinya 46 min), G Phiri, N Murisa, T Chitora, R Mhlanga (L Makura 75 min) A Tavarwisa (P Marufu 75 min)

Hwange: T Sibanda, T Sibelo, G Ndlovu, D Boriwondo, C Banda, A Chuma, I Mucheneka, P Mplele (P Dube 78 min), E Rusike, I Masame, G Zulu