PSL player of the week: Rodwell

Sport
Rodwell Chinyengetere inspired Hwange to a 5-1 victory over Buffaloes to give the coal miners a good start to the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL).

Rodwell-ChinyengetereAFTER 18 solid months of absence from action as a result of a horrific career threatening injury, Rodwell Chinyengetere inspired Hwange to a 5-1 victory over Buffaloes to give the coal miners a good start to the 2014 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL).

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Chinyengetere grabbed a brace as Chipangano walloped Buffaloes at the Colliery on Sunday and his return could spell a good season for Hwange, who narrowly survived relegation, ending 2013 on position 10 with 41 points, just three above Black Mambas who were given the boot.

The former Hwange captain and Warriors midfielder scored in the second half in the 41st and 69th minutes with the other goals coming from another brace by Evans Rusike and young Tafara Chese for the coal miners to claim the top spot in their first match of the season.

Hwange head coach Nation Dube yesterday hailed Chinyengetere.

“His comeback is a boost to us. He is a playmaker and is definitely an inspiration. I am very sure that we will be watching exciting football this year. He has fully recovered and played 90 minutes on Sunday,” he said.

“We now look forward to FC Platinum, who will be under pressure as they will be playing at home and after we walloped Buffaloes,” Dube said.

Chinyengetere suffered a double fracture in September 2012 in a match against Monomotapa when goalkeeper Artwell Mukandi (now at Dynamos) lunged at him in the 59th minute and referee Batsirai Muchenje ignored the incident, not even cautioning the goalkeeper.

He was later rushed to hospital and Hwange has been taking care of his rehabilitation.

The coal miners will play their second match away in Zvishavane against FC Platinum on Saturday.

It was also a good start for Chicken Inn, who hammered last season’s runners-up Harare City 3-0 at Luveve Stadium on Saturday with goals coming from Canaan Nkomo, Mkhokheli Dube and Ishmael Lawe.

The win definitely passes a vote of confidence on coach Joey Antipas, who took over from Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu last season.

The GameCox will be away to Buffaloes in their next outing in Mutare and the win in their first match over Harare City is definitely a big confidence booster.

Shabanie Mine, who experienced an exodus of most senior players including head coach Luke Masomere who moved to Buffaloes, also started the season on a good note, brushing aside Biggie Zuze’s Triangle 3-1 at Maglas on Sunday.

The former asbestos miners scored through Carlos Mesi and Louis Matawu and the third was an own goal by Jimmy Tigere, who also got Triangle’s consolation.

Methembe “Mayor” Ndlovu and his Bantu Rovers returned to the PSL with a 0-1 loss to Black Rhinos at Luveve Stadium on Saturday while FC Platinum were held to a 1-1 draw by Moses “Bambo” Chunga’s Chiredzi FC at Chishamiso.