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Luke Masomere

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
How Mine 3-2 ZPC Kariba
LUKE Masomere got off to a winning home league return when his charges How Mine saw off the challenge of ZPC Kariba in a Premier Soccer League match played at Hartsfield Grounds in Bulawayo yesterday. It was a first win in eight games for the gold miners while for ZPC Kariba it put a dent on their title charge as a win for the electricity generating team could have seen them leap-frog Highlanders into second position, a point behind leaders Dynamos.

How Mine got their goals through skilful midfielder Timothy January, striker Kuda Musharu and second half substitute Godfrey Nguwodzawo in the 25th, 69th and 89th minutes respectively while ZPC Kariba got their goals through Elvis Meleka and Moses Makanje in the 55th and 90th minute.

The match got off to a pulsating pace with action swinging from one end to the other as the teams were sizing each other up.
But it was the host who settled in the first half with a higher percentage of ball possession.Their dominance almost paid off as their stocky striker Caleb Masocha failed to direct his header into the net after being set up by the lively January. It was Masocha’s second miss within six minutes.

In the 18th minute, Thembani Masuku was ruled off-side when he tried to tap in James Chitereki’s hard and low cross.
How Mine finally broke the deadlock in the 25th minute when January beat ZPC Kariba goalkeeper Tendai Hove from close range.

Musharu sold an intelligent dummy to January off a Sithole pass and January had the easiest task of placing the ball beyond the reach of the advancing Hove in goals for ZPC Kariba sparking wild celebrations from the paltry crowd at the stadium.

Masocha could have put Chikurupati two up before half time but his thunderbolt from inside the box missed the left upright post by inches after being set up by the impressive Chitereki.

Sithole could also have put his name on the score sheet but he watched his effort go agonisingly wide in the second minute of added time in the first half with Hove at his mercy.

In the second half, ZPC Kariba made a double substitution bringing in veterans Limited Chikafa and Moses Makanje for Artwell Nyamhiwa and Tsepo Rantokoane in an attempt to get back into the match.

It seemed to have worked as ZPC Kariba got their equaliser through Meleka’s header.
Pride Tafirenyika whipped in a cross from the right and Meleka’s dipping header found Bernard Dovan off his line.
Musharu then put How Mine in the lead again in the 69th minute.

Chitereki made an overlapping run picking Masocha in the box. Masocha’s shot was blocked only to fall onto the path of Musharu who made no mistake from close range to register his 10th goal of the season.

In the 89th minute, How Mine looked to have killed the match as a contest as substitute Nguwodzawo finished off a neat one two with fellow substitute Heritani Masuku.

However, Makanje struck in the 90th minute with a low diving header.

Teams
How Mine: Donovan Bernard, James Chitereki, Brighton Dube, Gilbert Banda,Nyasha Mukumbi,Wonder Sithole, Thembani Masuku (Muzanenhamo 59th mins)Kuda Musharu,Tachi Nelson, Tomothy January (Godfrey Nguwodzawo 75th mins), Caleb Masocha (Heritani Masuku 85th min)

ZPC Kariba: Tendai Hove, Mwerahari Obey, Nyamandwe Tawanda, Mwinga Ephraim, Artwell Nyamhiwa (Chikafa 47th min), Munyanduri Tawanda, Pride Tafirenyika, Peter Mugando, Tsepo Rantokoane (Makanje 47th mins), Elvis Meleka, Dennis Daudi.