The Sunday News
From Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
Hwange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(0)1
Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . (0)0 A fired up Hwange FC underlined their resurgence in the Castle Lager premier league by feasting on league pacesetters Chicken Inn at an explosive match at the Colliery Stadium yesterday.
The hero of the afternoon for the coalminers was unheralded 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 to break the Gamecocks’ resistance which was hinged on the heroics of their in form goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze who pulled out 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 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 their red hot form in yesterday’s encounter could herald brighter moments for the passionate Hwange fans as the season inches towards the half-way mark. The coalminers’ serious intentions in the match came to the fore in the 10th minute when midfield livewire Farai Vimisai broke loose on the right flank and laid a sitter for young Innocent Muchenekwa who was unfortunate to see his goal bound effort from a few metres out bounce off teammate Zulu with Chipezeze sprawling on the ground.
The Gamecocks were unlucky not to race into the lead in the 22th minute after Canaan Nkomo’s rasping free kick crashed against the crossbar with Hwange veteran goalkeeper diving in vain.
Five minutes later Hwange midfielder Craven Banda responded with an equally brilliant free kick which drew the best out of Chipezeze who acrobatically went airborne to cleanly collect the stinging effort.
The coalminers continued knocking on the doors up to the breather but Chipezeze continued to be the stumbling block.
Sianchali’s introduction in the 68th minute lifted Chipangano’s game as the striker almost put his name on the score sheet four minutes but watched in utter disbelief as his flashing header, off a curling Vimisai corner kick crashed against the cross bar with Zulu skying the rebound to leave Chicken Inn off the hook.
Three minutes later there was no denying Sianchali who grabbed his first goal of the season which made him an instant hero with the fans.
Hwange did not sit back after the goal as they continued to attack in search of a killer goal and Vimisai was again denied by the agility of Chipezeze who used his fists to parry his blistering freekick out for a corner kick.
A double substitution by Chicken Inn’s Joey Antipas immediately after Hwange’s goal of bringing in Ishmael Lawe and George Majika for Canaan Nkomo and Edmore Chirambadare, who was kept under lock and key by the Hwange defence could not pull the game out of the fire for the Gamecocks who however threatened the coalminers towards the dying moments of the match.
Hwange goalkeepers’ coach Chenjerayi Dube was overjoyed after the game.
“We are finally getting right as a team though it was tough as Chicken Inn also played well. We hope to continue playing well,” said Dube.
Antipas conceded defeat after the final whistle.
“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.
