How Mine . . . (1) 4 Chuoni . . . . . . . . 0
HOW Mine kick-started their debut Caf Confederations Cup campaign with an emphatic win over Zanzibar’s Chuoni in a first leg preliminary round tie in a waterlogged Barbourfields Stadium pitch yesterday.
SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA SPORTS REPORTER
Newcomer Kudakwashe Musharu grabbed a brace while captain Menard Mupera and Warren Dube also recorded their maiden goals in the competition.
The Metallon Gold-sponsored team can lose by a margin of less than by four goals or settle for a draw when they visit Zanzibar for the return leg in a fortnight to progress to the next round. How Mine coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube was happy with the result, but lamented the poor condition of the pitch.
“I think we are in the right direction. As much as we wanted more goals we setttled for four goals at this level,” he said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“I think it is very important. We need to go and do our homework for the next game.
“We have to be honest the pitch is very bad. I don’t know what is happening.
“We need to improve by having another pitch reserved for such circumstances.
“Considering we were playing under such circumstances we managed to put our heads together and getting four goals is a piece of history in Zimbabwe.”
Ncube said there was nothing much he could have done with the scoring chances that went begging in the match.
“What should I do if they are missing clear-cut chances, should I go in and play? Missing chances is a sign that we are attacking,” he said.
“Buiding a team is a process. We cannot gel overnight.
“The issue is that they (Chuoni) were sitting back. We needed a goal before half time.”
Chuoni coach Ali Abdalla Hassan blamed the defeat on the condition of the pitch.
“The ground was not good as you can see for yourself, but our team played well,” he said.
“The major problem is the ground. How Mine is a very good team. We respect them, but we also have a team which is very good.”
How Mine had their first chance as early as the fifth minute when Edmore Muzanenhamo shot over the bar from inside the box. Three minutes later, How Mine thought they had a penalty when Ahmed Mohammed Sulum appeared to have hacked down Dube inside the box, but Angolan referee Do Rosario Baltazar cautioned the home team’s player.
Musharu fired past Chuoni goalkeeper Ahmed Ali Suliman in the 41st minute off a substitute Emmanuel Mandiranga pass. How Mine went two-up through a well-taken Mupera penalty after Musharu was brought down by Sulum a minute after the breather.
Musharu rose above the rest in the 51st minute to head in a Mandiranga corner kick to register his second goal. Dube then put the icing on the cake with the fourth goal in the 79th minute from a set piece just outside the penalty box.
