The Sunday News
Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter
Bulawayo City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2
Bulawayo Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
VETERAN Wellington Kamudyariwa rose from the bench to help Bulawayo City secure a draw against impressive Bulawayo Chiefs in a Chibuku Super Cup Group 2 encounter played at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday.
It was a match in which Chiefs were thrust into the lead by arguably man of the match Hughe Chikosa in the 18th minute when he beat City goalkeeper Bhekimpilo Ncube from close range. Ncube had brilliantly blocked a Farau Matare attempt at goal onto the path of Chikosa who obliged by tapping in the ball with so much ease.
With a dominant play that kept Philani “Beefy” Ncube’s charges in their own half, the entire Amakhosi Amahle family was shocked to see Chikosa’s 40th minute clever chip from just outside the 18-yard box hit the cross bar with Ncube already a beaten man. It was no wonder that Beefy conceded that they were found wanting in the first half of the match.
Bulawayo Chiefs players celebrate a goal against Bulawayo City
It was in the second stanza that Bulawayo City came to the party. A double substitution that saw them introduce Kamudyariwa and John Chinyerere in the 55th minute for the struggling duo of Wisdom Mutasa and Benson Phiri respectively helped them to start to detect the pace of the game.
Kamudyariwa was to get an equaliser for Bulawayo City in the 78th minute after his well taken penalty beat David Bizabani, in goal for Chiefs. City were awarded a penalty after Ben Nyahunzwi was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box by referee Hardly Ndazi. Two minutes later, Sibanda put Bulawayo City in the lead when he rose airborne to nod a well taken Kamudyariwa curling cross home.
With six minutes to go Bulawayo Chiefs were reduced to 10-men after their holding midfielder Joe Nyabinde, shining for the greater part of the match, was shown a straight red card for a nasty challenge on City captain Douglas Sibanda.
Wisdom Mutasa of Bulawayo City and Bulawayo Chiefs defender Ben Nyahunzwi go for the ball
In the referees’ optional time, Hwange based Ndazi awarded a second penalty of the match after Wilfred Munhorwei handled the ball inside the box. Up stepped substitute Billy Veremu who calmly converted from the spot and rescued the Twitter Kings from the jaws of defeat.
City and Chiefs, who last weekend respectively fell to Chicken Inn and Highlanders, are now tied on one point. Chiefs are on a goal difference of -1 and City are on -2. Two teams in the group will proceed to the next stage of the competition.
Teams
Bulawayo City: B Ncube, L Ncube, D Sibanda, V Moyo, W Munhorwei, B Phiri (Kamudyariwa 55 mins), D Mukandi, C Machisi, W Mutasa (Chinyerere 55 mins), H Ncube (Farasi 22 mins), M Sibanda.
Bulawayo Chiefs: D Bizabani, F Moyo, M Msebe (Antwi 46 mins), A Musiyiwa (Veremu 72 mins), H Chikosa (Musiyiwa 72 mins), J Nyabinde, F Matare, B Nyahunzwi, L Ndlela, P Shoko (Badu 58 mins), M Mkolo — @FungaiMuderere
