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TWO well-executed free-kicks by defenders Sizalobuhle Dube and Tonisani Sibelo ensured Hwange poured cold water on the simmering tensions in the soccer crazy Hwange community with their first win of this year’s Castle Lager Premier soccer season yesterday.
The coalminers had garnered just four points from their opening six games after having drawn with Gunners, Kiglon, Dynamos and Monomotapa and lost to Masvingo United and Shabanie. Yesterday they did not take long to race into the lead as Dube curled in a left-footed free-kick past Shooting Stars goalkeeper Godfrey Brown as early as the 4th minute after striker Gilbert Zulu was fouled at the edge of the box by a Shooting Stars defender. Even any short-sighted spectator could see how much relief the goal brought to Hwange team manager Tennant Chilumba and his counterparts in the team’s coaching department – Nation Dube and Mebelo Njekwa. The visitors’ first attack, orchestrated by midfield workhorse Elliot Matsika in the 10th minute, carried a lot of venom after he combined well with James Chitereki and Amon Mudukuti only for goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda to deny Mudukuti with his feet from a one-on-one situation.
Matsika was a thorn in the flesh of the Hwange rearguard each time he was in possession but was let down by his teammates.
Gilbert Zulu fluffed two glorious chances before Simbarashe Jongwe also squandered a golden opportunity at the end of this half to sum up a tale of missed chances for Chilumba’s charges. Incensed by a flurry of wasted opportunities, the Zambian gaffer dragged out his fellow countryman Kennedy Kachema in the 40th minute for striker Tongai Magwendere but the big striker was just a big let down.
Shooting Stars got their best chance of the afternoon in the 52nd minute but Samuel Gadzikwa overdid his lob past the advancing goalkeeper Timothy Sibanda and could only watch in disbelief as his effort sailed over the bar.
All the hopes of the visitors staging a comeback fizzled out in the 72nd minute when right back Sibelo curled his free-kick past the Shooting Stars wall to send the drum-beating home fans into a frenzy.
This was after the visitors’ defender Tofireyi Sambo was adjudged by referee Hardley Ndazi to have fouled Magwendere in a tussle for possession just outside the box. The visiting players complained and surrounded their technical bench in protest, leading to a five-minute stoppage but they later carried on with the match.
After the resumption, Hwange closed shop and held on to a much-needed win which must have given Chilumba and company a peaceful night yesterday. They will look forward to the game against Black Mambas with much hope on the horizon as they seek to lift themselves from the lower rungs of the table.
Teams
Hwange: T. Sibanda, A. Tshuma, S. Dube, G. Ndhlovu, A. Katebe, K. Kachema (T. Magwendere 40th minute), G. Zulu, W. Muhango (F. Zekumbawere 78th minute), R. Chinyengetere, T. Sibelo, S. Jongwe (O. Mpofu 87th minute).
Shooting Stars: G. Brown, E. Matsika, J. Chitereki, S. Gadzikwa (J. Sinzi 86th minute), A Mudukuti, B Tembo, T Sambo, M Muneri, T Chiworeso, T Mazunze, W Mabaya (B Mutyambizi 86th minute).