Chaos as Bosso wins derby

By Ricky Zililo in Bulawayo

How Mine……………(0) 1
Highlanders……….(1) 2

CHAOTIC scenes erupted at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday when How Mine FC players’ attempt for a half-time “ritual” at the Soweto End hit a snag resulting in some overzealous Highlanders FC fans pelting them with missiles.

The incident nearly ruined a perfect derby that had lived up to the billing.

Just as referee Thabani Bamala had blown his whistle to end the first stanza with Bosso leading 1-0 courtesy of a Gabriel Nyoni 21st minute goal, How Mine’s mind games went horribly wrong as missiles rained on their players who were attempting to “pray” at the Soweto End goal.

Some players appeared to be in the process of urinating on the goal which impressive Ariel Sibanda was to guard after the oranges.

Instead of rushing to the dressing room to re-strategise, How Mine’s veteran midfielder Menard Mupera led his troops to the side which houses Bosso followers and claimed to have been hit on the shoulder with Xolisani Moyo holding his head though both players returned in the 46th minute seemingly fit for the game.

Stand-in How Mine coach Sheunesu Chaka said the deliberate incident at the Soweto End appeared to have affected his players.

“As a team we have our own rituals and we were only going there to pray because we had done so before the game.

“Unfortunately, some people decided to block our players when we meant no harm at all. We didn’t provoke them but we were just going there to pray. Menard was hit on the shoulder and Xolisani on the head. Naturally that kind of victimisation affects the players but as the game progressed they picked up,” said Chaka.

He conceded that the defeat was difficult to fathom as they had created a number of clear-cut scoring opportunities.

No doubt, Highlanders’ impressive goalkeeper Sibanda was the man-of-the-match, producing heroic saves to keep his team in contention.

At the stroke of half-time, Mupera held his head in disbelief after Sibanda denied him a goal from close range in a one-on-one situation.

The veteran midfielder had dribbled past four Highlanders players in the box but could not beat Sibanda.

Six minutes after the breather Sibanda went airborne to tip a Mupera dipping shot in the box for a corner.

With How Mine pushing all their players up front in search of an equaliser, Bosso right back Simon Munawa extended Highlanders’ lead with a superb 25m shot that caught How Mine’s goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura by surprise and his attempt to stop the well struck ball, the former Black Rhinos shotstopper pick an injury and had to be pulled off for Nonjabulo Dube.

How Mine tried to take control of the game with Moyo, Edmore Muzanenhamo and Kuda Musharu keeping Bosso on their toes but could not beat Sibanda.

The day clearly belonged to Sibanda as he made a point blank save in the dying stages of the game but there was nothing that he could have done to stop a Muzanenhamo goal in the 87th minute. Emmanuel Mandiranga had beaten Munawa on the left before sending in a perfect cross that found an unmarked Muzanenhamo who just connected into an empty net.

“It is good that we managed to get maximum points in a derby and if you look it has been difficult for us to collect three points against our city rivals in the past seasons. What we have to do is work hard on our shortcomings from this game, train hard to rectify the mistakes that led to us conceding a goal,” said Kaindu.

The Zambian expatriate was content with his team’s performance, with Joel Ngodzo in sparkling form in the midfield exhibiting some brilliant passing skills that mesmerised Highlanders’ supporters.

As has been the case so often this season, Charles Sibanda was very industrious chasing back to help in midfield with captain Innocent Mapuranga defying his age with timely tackles as he covered for edgy Dumisani “Fazo” Ndlovu and Munawa. Chronicle

Teams:

How Mine: Ephraim Mazarura (Nonjabulo Dube, 77th minute), James Chitereki, Brighton Dube, Gilbert Banda, George Magariro, Xolisani Moyo, Wonder Sithole, Menard Mupera (Emmanuel Mandiranga, 70th minute), Kuda Musharu, Timothy January, Thembani Masuku (Edmore Muzanenhamo, 60th minute)

Highlanders: Ariel Sibanda, Simon Munawa, Bruce Kangwa, Innocent Mapuranga, Dumisani Ndlovu, Hillary Madzivanyika, Knox Mutizwa (Welcome Ndiweni, 59th minute), Joel Ngodzo (King Madolo, 72nd minute), Gabriel Nyoni, Charles Sibanda (Godfrey Makaruse, 79th minute), Valentine Ndaba