Clinical Shabanie stun Mambas

Sport
SHABANIE Mine overturned Black Mambas dominance with a more clinical performance to dispatch the police side 2-0 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match.

SHABANIE Mine overturned Black Mambas dominance with a more clinical performance to dispatch the police side 2-0 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Maglas Stadium yesterday.

EPHRAIM SHOKO SPORTS CORRESPONDENT

Shabanie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2 Black Mambas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

SHABANIE Mine overturned Black Mambas dominance with a more clinical performance to dispatch the police side 2-0 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Maglas Stadium yesterday.

A Pevington Zimunya penalty in the 30th minute and an own goal by Black Mambas defender Paul Marazanye was all the home side needed to take their points tally to 21 and swop places with Mambas on the log standings.

Shabanie Mine coach Luke Masomere was happy with the team’s victory and praised his players for putting aside the club’s numerous troubles and ekeing out a positive result.

“It’s a sweet victory indeed regardless of the numerous troubles we are facing here. Credit should go to the players whom I must commend for rising above the challenges and recording a positive result,” he said.

Black Mambas assistant coach Martin Bonongwe expressed disappointment at the team’s loss which he blamed on the disjointed midfield. “Generally, we are disappointed with the result. Our midfield did not click and we lost shape which put pressure on our defenders.”

Shabanie Mine started brightly, dominating possession in the first half with Tarisai Rukanda and Caleb Masocha asking a lot of questions in the Mambas rearguard.

After Tafadzwa Mombeshora’s 22nd minute goal was ruled offside by referee Thomas Mafa, the home side’s dominance was rewarded in the 30th minute courtesy of a penalty by Zimunya after Erea Phiri was brought down in the box by Proud Khumalo.

Masomere was forced to pull out Zimunya at half-time due to injury and replaced him with former Masvingo Utd striker Roland Makiwa. Mambas also made changes at half-time bringing in Kasimero Chimbadzwa for Khumalo.

However, it was Masomere’s change which yielded the results as Makiwa’s instant impact was felt in the 47th minute, when he charged down the left flank before sending in a low cross which Marazanye turned into his own net in an attempt to clear.

Black Mambas finished the match with 10 men after Kasimero, who spent just 10 minutes on the pitch, was sent off for a second bookable offence after fouling Blessed Mbavarira in an off-the-ball incident.