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Tobias Mandoreba Hwange Sports Correspondent
Hwange 3-3 ZPC Kariba
ZPC Kariba’s never-say-die attitude left some Hwange FC fans in tears and utterly dejected at the end of the match as the power generators plucked a point from the jaws of defeat in an exciting Castle Lager Premier league match played at the Colliery Stadium yesterday.

It all looked like the coalminers had done enough to bounce back from the 5-2 drubbing suffered at the hands of Triangle at Gibbo Stadium last weekend as they led 3-1 with only seven minutes left on the clock but Saul Chaminuka’s charges had other ideas as they switched on the lights in a power station which was in total darkness with two late goals.

Double scorer Raphael Manuvire gave “Kauya Katuruturu” a flicker of hope in the 83th minute when he converted from the penalty spot after referee Hardley Ndazi adjudged that Hwange defender Gerald Ndlovu had handled a goal bound effort inside the box.

With three minutes left on the clock, the world came crushing down on Hwange as Manuvire completed his brace with a scrambled effort after a goal mouth melee to leave the drum beating home fans in shock.

The coalminers had started the match charging like a wounded buffalo and could have grabbed an early goal had striker Alec Marime’s powerful header not missed the target by a few inches with goalkeeper Wilson Muchenje beaten clean.

The coalminers were not finished as they continued to turn on the screws on the power generators who looked jaded especially in the opening half hour.

Chipangano’s pressure paid off in the 21st minute when central defender David Boriwondo rose high to power home a flashing header past Muchenje to give the hosts the lead.

Four minutes later Hwange’s young midfielder Innocent Muchenekwa watched in disbelief as his rasping volley crashed against the upright before being cleared to safety by reliable defender Dennis Dauda.

Against the run of play, ZPC Kariba equalised in the 29th minute when Artwell Nyamiwa headed home a delicate cross by overlapping defender Stephen Sheshe.

The goal saw ZPC Kariba start firing from all units with their increased football capacity engineered by hard running Russel Madamombe and were denied a chance to take the lead moments before the break by the agility of Hwange goal minder Takabva Mawaya who went airborne to push a stinging shot from Thomas Magorimbo out for a corner kick.

Hwange started the last half in the same fashion as they knocked on ZPC Kariba’s door with some relentless pressure and could have raced out of sight in the opening five minutes of the last stanza but Muchenekwa fluffed two glorious opportunities that came his way.

In the 54th minute Tonisani Sibelo showed Muchenekwa how it is done when he curled home a free kick after Marime was tripped on the edge of the box by a ZPC Kariba defender.

Five minutes later another defender Munyaradzi Mungadze made it 3-1 with another well taken free kick which eluded the wall and whistled past a diving Muchenje.

Coach Saul Chaminuka’s substitution proved to be the tonic needed to douse the blazing coal embers as the introduction of big Tawanda Nyamandwe on the hour mark for Nyamiwa saw ZPC Kariba camping in Hwange half but as the game wore on it looked like the coalminers had done enough to leave ZPC Kariba totally switched off until the penalty incident that set up a remarkable recovery by the visitors.

ZPC Kariba in the process spoiled what had looked like a perfect reunion for Nation Dube and Mebelo Njekwa who has since bounced back as Dube’s assistant after a reshuffle carried out by the Hwange executive during the course of the week.

Brian Njovu, who was in charge last weekend in Triangle, has since been reassigned to take charge of Chipangano’s developmental side.
Nation Dube was seething with fury directed at referee Ndazi at the end of the match.

“My boys played well especially after the big loss in Triangle but I blame the referee for the penalty he gave to ZPC Kariba which gave them hope. I am not amused with this type of officiating,”  said Dube, with hardly any voice left after the game.

Chaminuka was happy with the result but also laid blame on Ndazi for Hwange’s two free kicks converted by Sibelo and Mungadze.

“I am happy for the boys who showed a lot of fighting spirit to come back from 3-1 down but I feel the two free kicks given to Hwange were too soft,” said Chaminuka.

TEAMS

Hwange: T Mawaya; T Sibelo(P Dube 61st min); M Mungadze; G Ndlovu; D Boriwondo; A Tshuma; N Siwela(T Chese 80th min); I Muchenekwa; E Rusike; A Marime(F Vimisai 57th min); G Zulu

ZPC Kariba: W Muchenje; S Sheshe(T Ranthokoane 66th min); D Phiri; G Magariro; D Dauda; T Magorimbo; P Tafirenyika; T Munyanduri; A Nyamiwa(T Nyamandwe 60th min); R Manuvire; R Madamombe(C Muchaya 82th min); G Magariro.