The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
How Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Hwange Colliery FC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
A CONTROVERSIAL 85th minute penalty converted by Crispen Dickson gave Hwange a ray of hope in their relegation fight as they edged How Mine at Luveve Stadium yesterday.
With the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League tie seemingly headed for a stalemate, Hwange’s Justine Banda clashed with How Mine defender Makundika Sakala as they both tried to reach for the ball inside the box but referee, Thembinkosi Sibanda surprisingly penalised the latter.
How Mine coach, Kelvin Kaindu revealed one of their players told them he had overheard the referee telling Hwange players to go inside the box and he hands them a penalty.
“It is difficult when a player says he heard the referee telling the opponents to go into the box and he will award them a penalty and then it happens. Of course it becomes the word of the player against that of the referee but it certainly brings into questions the reputation of the game,” he said, indicating they would be laying an official complaint with the PSL over the incident.
Although Kaindu did not name the player it is believed to be Milton Ncube, who told the fourth official, Martin Chivandire about what he overhead the referee saying.
Kaindu said the player even challenged Sibanda to give him a red card over the accusations but the match official did not act.
Despite the three points, the coal miners remain rooted third from bottom with 29 points, three behind Shabanie Mine.
Hwange coach, Bigboy Mawiwi was elated with the result saying it was a great away victory.
“It will give us confidence going into our next assignment on Wednesday we are focused and will keep on working hard.
“I think we should have wrapped it up in the first half as we had four clear cut chances and I knew it would be difficult in the second half as How Mine is a very tactical side. They play good football but I am glad we managed to walk away with the three points.
“We are not thinking about relegation we will take each game as it comes and our focus is on the next assignment,” he said.
Teams
How Mine: F Sibanda, P Tonha, B Mbiriri, M Sakala, F Makarati, M Ncube, T Makanda (T Banda, 58th), P Manhanga, K Musharu (B Banda, 65th), P Moyo (T Chanengeta (A Muganyi, 51st).
Hwange: C Phiri, K Matake, C Dickson, G Ndlovu, M Mekiwa, A Chuma, C Muleya, A Banda (S Gadzikwa, 63rd, E Meleka 90th), N Ziwini, D Murimba (C Muvuti, 59th), J Kaunda.
