Raymond Jaravaza, Sports Correspondent
Tsholotsho 1-1 Mutare City Rovers
TSHOLOTSHO failed to capitalise on home ground advantage and a first half lead to share the spoils with Mutare City Rovers in a Castle Lager Premiership game played at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
The match was temporarily stopped in the seventh minute when a swarm of bees invaded the pitch sending players and the match officials scurrying for cover.
Play resumed a few moments after the bees had left and Tsholotsho eventually took the lead in the 43rd minute courtesy of defender Thandolwenkosi Ncube who beat a poorly set offside trap to slot home.
The cross came from the right side and Mutare City defenders appealed for an offside, but assistant referee Abraham Manda kept his flag down, leaving Ncube with the simplest task of beating exposed goalkeeper Victor Twaliki.
That lead was cancelled in the 63rd minute when Mutare City striker Agrippa Murimba worked his way past two Tsholotsho defenders and beat goalkeeper Nickel Murichi.
Collins Duhwa had the chance to steal three points for the visitors in the closing stages of the game, but failed to direct his shot on target with Tsholotsho keeper Marichi exposed.
Tsholotsho coach Lizwe Sweswe believes the departure of key players had affected his side.
The club lost Buthelezwe Ncube to South African National First Division side AmaZulu, which is coached by former Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas, while midfielder Simbarashe Gorogodyo joined Harare giants Dynamos.
Captain William Stima is also leaving the team for FC Platinum.
“We lost experienced players that had been with the team for long and understood the philosophy at the club, so it will be difficult to get results without them. Stima was playing his last match today and will be joining FC Platinum,” said Sweswe.
Mutare City coach Taku Shariwa said: “We so much wanted to get three points and overtake them on the log standings, but as things stand, the status quo remains. Going into the second half of the season, we will be under immense pressure to pull ourselves out of the relegation zone. As a coach, I’m paid to perform and I’ll try to do just that.”
Teams
Tsholotsho: N Marichi, M Phiri, N Moyo, T Ncube, S Dube, R Mufudza, A Ncube (Clement Yeboah 75 minutes), B Madanhire (Nkosana Siwela 62 minutes), C Dhuwa, B Sibanda, W Stima
Mutare City: V Twaliki, F Muza (Stephen Sibanda 61 minutes), S Hadebe (Arnold Nyakabawo 68 minutes), W Mapfumo, B Majamanda, M Sako, A Murimba (Chasten Ngondonga 79 minutes), M Japatapa, K Gurure, S Muchabaya, V Madamombe