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Tobias Mandoreba, Hwange Sports Correspondent
HWANGE’s dip in form continued yesterday when they collapsed against a fired up Highlanders in a league match at the Colliery Stadium yesterday.

The coalminers lost 1-0 to relegation threatened Tsholotsho at the same venue 10 days ago before a 1-3 drubbing by Caps United in the Easycup quarter-finals in Harare last Saturday.

All hopes of a turnaround fizzled in the scorching Hwange heat as Chipangano found themselves 0-3 down 33 minutes into the match.

Bosso opened their account in the 4th minute after Hwange defender Andrew Tshuma’s intended back header to his goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya fell to veteran striker Ralph Matema, who gratefully tucked home from close range.

The coalminers could have drawn level in the 12th minute through lanky defender Munyaradzi Mungadze, but his flashing header sailed agonisingly over the bar with Bosso goal minder Ariel Sibanda beaten.

With Hwange trying to claw back into the game, Highlanders grabbed their second in the 30th minute through the league’s top marksman Knox Mutizwa, who hammered a grounder from the edge of the box after latching onto a sitter by Bosso’s most outstanding player of the afternoon, Valentine Ndaba.

Ndaba was a menace on the left flank.

Chipangano were not allowed any chance to regroup after this second goal as Matema grabbed his brace through a free header from inside the box after Mutizwa had flicked a harmless looking ball sent in from the middle of the park.

Hwange coach Nation Dube then pulled out central defender Gerald Ndlovu for veteran striker Gilbert Zulu in the 38th minute and the coalminers started launching meaningful raids into the Bosso half.

The coalminers’ pressure finally paid off in the 53rd minute when central defender David Boriwondo connected a curling Farai Vimisai corner kick into the roof of the net.

Hwange then camped inside the Highlanders’ half, but dazzling moves involving Zulu and Vimisai came to naught.

Newman Sianchali unleashed a thunderbolt past a diving Sibanda in 71st minute following a solo run by Pritchard Mpelele on the left flank leaving Bosso fans stunned with the score at 2-3.

However, the introduction of King Nadolo for Douglas Sibanda moments after the Hwange second goal tilted the game back in Highlanders’ favour as his darting runs on the right flank gave the Chipangano rearguard headaches.

Nadolo created the chance for Mutizwa to complete his brace on the stroke of fulltime and kill any hopes Hwange had of grabbing an equaliser.

Nadolo roasted Tshuma and Mungadze near the corner flag before laying the ball to Mutizwa, who cleverly waltzed past Boriwondo and banged in Bosso’s fourth goal.

Hwange coach Nation Dube attributed the loss to fatigue and poor officiating.

“Yes we lost, but I’m not happy with (Allen) Basvi’s officiating as he makes questionable decisions each time he officiates a Hwange game. To me

Highlanders’ second goal was offside. I also think these fixtures are not fair to my team as travelling is taking its toll on my boys,” said Dube.

Bosso interim technical director Cosmas Zulu was over the moon, saying the fruits of their hard labour were now showing.

“When we came in with Amini Soma-Phiri, there were people who doubted our capabilities and even blasted our training set up, but look at the results now; they’re pleasing. Whatever we touch turns into gold. Wait and see as we go on,” said Zulu.

Teams

Hwange: T Mawaya; P Dube; D Boriwondo; G Ndlovu (G Zulu 38th min); M Mungadze; A Tshuma; C Muleya; N Sianchali; P Mpelele (I Mucheneka 70th min); R Chinyengetere; A Marime (F Vimisai 48th min)

Highlanders: A Sibanda; R Kutsanzira (O Tarumbwa 48th min); B Kangwa; S Munawa; K Mutizwa; F Chindungwe; D Sibanda (K Nadolo 72th min); E Mudzingwa; V Ndaba (E Muzanenhamo 76th min); T Ngulube; R Matema.