By Oscar Rusenga in Triangle
Triangle 1-1 Highlanders
BULAWAYO giants Highlanders kept their unbeaten run intact but they were restricted to a share of the spoils as hosts Triangle rallied from behind to earn a vital draw in a premiership tie at Gibbo Stadium yesterday.
A first half penalty by dreadlocked midfielder Charles Sibanda had given Bosso the advantage but Triangle’s Brian Juwayeyi struck the equaliser to ensure his team would not slump to a third successive defeat that would have heaped more pressure on coach Biggie Zuze.
Zuze made a host of changes to the team that had lost to FC Platinum and Dynamos and among those dropped was Warriors midfielder Pasca Manhanga whose place was taken by Marvellous Mukumba.
There were allegations from Manhanga, however, that his absence was due to some superstitious belief that the midfielder could have been casting a bad spell on Triangle.
“I was told by my coaches that they have been receiving smes from their sources that I was given juju by Ntini (Gishon Ntini) so that every time I am in the squad we don’t win. I was not surprised when I was dropped but I want to clear my name since I do not believe in juju and I cannot pray for my own team to lose,” said Manhanga.
Zuze declined to be drawn into commenting on the allegations.
“I cannot comment on that but all I know is we dropped more than 8 players because of performance and the PSL require only 18 players on the match day team sheet,’’ said Zuze.
Highlanders were quicker off the blocks and could have surged ahead after just three minutes when Kuda Mahachi took a fine free-kick which was however brilliantly tipped over by Triangle goalkeeper Ronald Mudimu.
Triangle responded with Juwayeyi but his shot was also well dealt with by Ariel Sibanda.
Bosso then got their breakthrough after 10 minutes when Triangle captain Jimmy Tigere fouled Gabriel Nyoni inside the box and Kwekwe-based referee Munyaradzi Majoni pointed to the spot.
Knox Mtizwa could have made it two for Highlanders from an acute angle but an alert Mudimu was equal to the task.
Just three minutes after the break, Triangle had their home fans up in jubilation when the exciting Juwayeyi benefited from a miscued Bosso clearance to prod the ball past Ariel.
The home team had a chance to add a second in the 64th minute but Tinei Chitora with only the keeper to beat tried a chip but the ball could not elude Ariel.
Mahachi showed glimpses of brilliance but could not enjoy free play as Triangle played a more physical game.
The Zimbabwe winger did well to set up Gabriel Nyoni in the 78th minute but as had been the case all afternoon, Mudimu blocked his header.
Mahachi almost scored two minutes later after a solo run but his effort was once again pushed out for a corner kick by Mudimu.
Eight minutes from time Nhamo Lameck’s thunderbolt hit the side netting after benefiting from Juwayeyi.
Triangle then finished the game with 10 men after defender Charles Rukwani was given his second straight red card in five games, this time for a tackle on Mahachi in the 84th minute.
Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu was not pleased with the result.
“The game was dull in the first half but both teams played entertaining football in the second stanza. I am not happy with the goal we conceded, we thought the ball was ours but they took a quick throw in and they scored from that ball,” said Kaindu.
But Zuze said he was satisfied with the outcome.
“We were playing against a top team and the boys adjusted well and they were not intimidated. We gave them a soft penalty and I feel Jimmy (Tigere) was careless on the tackle,” said Zuze.
The former Monomotapa coach is still under pressure amid indications that ex-Triangle coach Ntini, fired early this year, has been pressing for a dramatic comeback to take charge of the side he led to promotion from Division One.
Teams
Triangle: R Mudimu, P Tonha, B Chimwamuchere, C Rukwanhi, J Tigere, C Makoto, M Mukumba (H Bakacheza 60th minute) (T Chipunza 88th minute), B Juwayeyi, R Kawondera, T Chitora (B Maziwisa 73rd minute) N Lameck
Highlanders: A Sibanda, K Mahachi, S Munawa, C Sibanda, B Kangwa, I Mapuranga, K Mtizwa (Milton Ncube 58th minute), D Ndlovu, E Mudzingwa (K Banda), G Nyoni, W Ndiweni (H Madzivanyika 72nd minute) Chronicle
