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 Ray Bande in Mutare

Hwange 1-0 Buffaloes
MUTARE top-flight league outfit Buffaloes sunk deeper into the murky waters of relegation when they were edged by Hwange in a Castle Lager Premiership soccer encounter played at Sakubva yesterday.

As it stands, Manicaland could be left without a single team in the domestic top flight as chances for survival for the two teams based in the region — Buffaloes and Dongo Sawmills — are getting thinner with each passing week.

Barely a fortnight ago, the Mutare-based army outfit dropped two points at home when they had to come from behind to snatch a point against fellow relegation candidates Tsholotsho and now prospects of playing in the less fashionable Division One are increasing with each passing round of league matches.

That Harare referee Nomore Musundire made a good number of diabolical calls against the home team only helped to condemn Buffaloes deeper into the relegation zone.

Among other blips and blunders by the Harare referee was the decision to deny the home team what looked like a clear penalty when goal-bound Lloyd Katongomara was clumsily hacked down inside the box in the 23rd minute but the lanky match official waved play on.

Buffaloes were the first to start asking questions but somehow their strikers lacked precision in front of goal.

The visitors then scored the only goal of the match in the 26th minute when Innocent Mucheneka connected home a hard and low cross from diminutive Farai Vimisayi.

The goal must have stolen the zeal out of this Buffaloes side as Hwange started dominating possession and they could have doubled the lead in the 68th minute when Ronald Chinyengetere made a mess of a clear-cut scoring opportunity with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Buffaloes’ assistant coach Joseph “Shabba” Takaringofa, who was in charge of the Mutare side in the absence of head coach Saul Chaminuka yesterday, is still optimistic that his team will evade the dreaded chop.

“I think we didn’t play according to our game-plan. We seemed to be under pressure. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the fact that we’re in the relegation zone and the boys feel inferior or they feel that too much is expected from them.

“However, we’re confident that we’ll escape relegation. We still have four matches to go before the season comes to an end. We can’t afford to throw in the towel now,” said Takaringofa after the match.

Hwange assistant coach Mebelo Njekwa, who was also standing in for head coach Nation Dube, praised his boys for playing according to instructions.

“We played well and according to instructions. We knew that they (Buffaloes) were going to depend on long balls and we were prepared for that. It’s good that we managed to get three points away and we can only say tough luck to Buffaloes for getting deeper into relegation,” Njekwa said.

Teams

Buffaloes: B Mwandimutsira, S Nkata, P Chandisaita, K Mwaramba, K Chigwidi, F Banda, R Mwenga, J Muzokomba, C Kawinga, L Katongomara (T Tsuro 62nd minute), J Takunda (H Madzivanyika 54th minute).

Hwange: T Mawaya, T Sibelo, D Boriwondo, M Mungadzi, G Ndlovu, A Tshuma, I Mucheneka, C Mleya, F Vimisayi, R Chinyengetere, G Zulu.