The Sunday Mail
Tobias Mandoreba in HWANGE
Hwange ............................(0) 1
Chicken Inn......................(0) 0
FIRED-up Hwange underlined their resurgence in the Castle Lager Premier League by feasting on league pacesetters Chicken Inn in an explosive match at the Colliery yesterday.
The hero of the afternoon was lanky striker Newman Sianchali who rose from the bench, replacing Craven Banda, to make a big contribution with the all-important goal in the 75th minute.
The goal broke the Gamecocks’ resistance, which was hinged on the heroics of their in-form goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze, who pulled a number of top-drawer saves to frustrate Chipangano.
A clever flick by ageless striker Gilbert Zulu on the edge of the box saw Sianchali outpace Chicken Inn’s defensive duo of Moses Jackson and Canaan Mhlanga before toe-poking the ball past an outdrawn Chipezeze to leave the home fans in a delirium.
The coalminers have had a slow start to the campaign, but if their red-hot form in yesterday’s encounter is anything to write home about, then brighter moments are in store for the passionate Hwange fans, as the season inches towards the half way mark.
A double substitution by Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas immediately after Hwange’s goal brought in Ishmael Lawe and George Majika for Canaan Nkomo and Edmore Chirambadare, who were kept under lock and key by the Hwange defence and could not pull the game out of the fire.
Hwange goalkeepers’ coach Chenjerayi Dube was excited with the result.
“We are finally getting it right as a team though it was tough as Chicken Inn also played well. We hope to continue playing well,” he said.
Antipas conceded defeat.
“My boys played well as we created a couple of chances which we failed to convert. It was just unfortunate that a lapse in concentration at the back cost us, but congratulations to Hwange for the deserved win.” he said.
Hwange-based referee Bonamali Bwanale had a firm grip on the match.
Teams:
Hwange: T Sibanda; P Dube; M Mungadze; G Ndlovu; D Boriwondo; A Tshuma; I Muchenekwa; F Vimisai; C Banda(N Sianchali 68th min); G Zulu; I Masame(T Chamboko 90th min)
Chicken Inn: E Chipezeze; M Jackson; C Matawu; D Lunga; B Juru; M Katsvairo; P Bernard; E Chirambadare(I Lawe 80th min); T Kutinyu(B Ncube 46th min); L Mhlanga; C Nkomo(G Majika 80th min).
