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Paul Mundandi and Tawanda Mangoma Sports Correspondents
Shabanie Mine FC 1-3 How Mine

Chiredzi FC 1-2 Black Rhinos

SHABANIE Mine goalkeeper Victor Twaliki gifted How Mine three goals that he could easily have dealt with had he been in the right state of mind.

The goals resulted in some fans throwing missiles towards him and calling for his substitution. Others headed home at halftime as they could not stomach the defeat that sunk their team deep into relegation waters at Maglas Stadium in a Castle Lager Premiership match yesterday.

It was also the first time Shabanie had lost by three goals at home.

Police had to disperse the crowd that was calling for the goalkeeper’s head and also escorted the team bus to Shabanie Mine Club. Many fans in the town including some executive members suspect the match was fixed as most of their players played below par conceding three goals in 11 minutes.

How Mine found the target through a brace from Thembani Masuku in 35th and 46th minute while Godfrey Nguwodzawo got the third.

Shabanie replied through a well taken penalty by Twaliki in the 69th minute.

“I’m on cloud nine. I was in plaster for a month and this was my first match. I want to thank God, the technical team and my teammates. The mistakes by the Shabanie Mine goalkeeper happen in football,” said Masuku, a former Lord Malvern student who graduated from Agatha Sheneti and played for Harare United, Shooting Stars and Motor Action before joining the gold miners.

How Mine went into the lead through a goal by Masuku in the 35th minute. He poked in a corner kick from the right by Heritain Masuku after Twaliki had come off his line but failed to collect the ball.

The gold miners scored again in the 40th minute. Nguwodzawo won possession on the right under challenge from Smart Muchabayiwa, Twaliki came out in a bid to clear. That enabled Nguwodzawo to shoot into the unguarded nets.

With fans hoping for a positive change and with only 30 seconds from the breather a cross from Nguwodzawo saw Masuku scoring his second for How Mine.

Twaliki could have simply come out of his line to deal with the cross but he opted to remain rooted to his line.

Jairos Tapera then worsened the situation when he pulled out exciting Ryan Mabhena leaving the ineffective Michael Mageja and Carlos Messi. His team felt the absence of Douglas Sibanda, Rowan Nenzou, Zvenyika Makonese and goalkeeper London Zulu.

Gilbert Banda then handled in the box under challenge from Allan Tavarwisa. The referee pointed to the spot and Twaliki sent his opposite number the wrong way in the 69th minute.

“I’ve never talked about relegation. My team survived a long time ago. We planned well this afternoon and executed our duties,” said an elated How Mine coach Luke Masomere.

Tapera was putting on a brave face.

“We lost the game. Our plans were stupid and we let in three stupid goals. We lost as a team and we’re now going to re-group and plan for the next game,” said Tapera.

Meanwhile, Black Rhinos eased their relegation worries with a win over Chiredzi FC in at Chiredzi’s Chishamiso Stadium.

They came into the match under pressure to collect maximum points after dropping two points at home against Hwange last weekend.

Black Rhinos will be eager to continue with their bid for survival when they date fellow relegation-haunted Shabanie Mine at Rimuka Stadium in their next game.

Rhinos got their goals from Wonder Kapinda in the 18th minute before Lot Chiunga added another in the 28th minute.

The home side responded through Tawanda Muyendi in the 63rd minute.

Rhinos’ head coach Jostein Mathuthu said he was happy with collecting three points away from home.

“I’m happy we collected three points away from home. Chiredzi is a strong side with a good coach.

“When you’re facing them you should be well prepared,” he said.

His counterpart Gishon Ntini said they wasted numerous chances.

“We dominated play but we failed to utilise our chances. It wasn’t our day and we need to soldier on,” he said.