Highlanders . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1 How MINE . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 1
KNOX Mutizwa’s contentious second-half penalty helped 10-man Highlanders salvage a point in a Castle Premiership encounter against How Mine at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday.
BY SAKHELENI NXUMALO
Chikurupati, as How Mine is affectionately known, had taken the lead through a Timothy January strike on 11 minutes, but paid the price for their failure to score more goals in a first half that they completely dominated.
Referee Arnold Ncube awarded Highlanders the penalty after second-half substitute Thomas Chideu was brought down by How Mine defender Nelson Tachi as he was trying to get to a through ball inside the visitors’ penalty box.
Chideu, who came in for King Nadolo after 72 minutes, did not finish the match after he was shown a straight red card for kicking Tachi in the chest as he attempted an overhead kick in injury time.
How Mine head coach Luke Masomere told journalists during his post-match interview that he was not happy with the penalty decision although he desisted from complaining about the referee.
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“We really played well and could have wrapped up the game in the first half, but we missed a lot of chances, especially in the first half. “I wouldn’t want to say much about the penalty, but I was not happy. We have to improve in terms of fair play so that football can be the winner at the end of the day,” Masomere said.
Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu said his side showed quality in managing to salvage a draw.
“It was a very tough match where the opponents used experience to get almost all over us, but it is the quality of the side that even when the opposition has moments of the upper hand we can still grind out a draw,” Mafu said.
How Mine started like a house on fire and Highlanders keeper Ariel Sibanda had to work overtime to deny the gold miners the lead until the 11th minute when January found the opener.
Jittery Highlanders defender Teenage Hadebe was at fault for the visitors’ goal after he failed to contain How Mine’s Benjamin Marere who roasted the Young Warriors international before squaring into the box.
Marere’s pass found Limited Chikafa whose shot was blocked by Sibanda and January reacted quicker than the Highlanders defence to slot the ball home for the opener.
How Mine’s three-pronged attack of Marere, Chikafa and Kuda Musharu troubled the Highlanders rearguard comprising Hadebe, Erick Mudzingwa, Bruce Kangwa and Webster Chingodza for long periods in the first half but they failed to add to their goal.
Highlanders came back stronger after the break with Nadolo pulling the strings in midfield and Bosso fans whistled in protest when he was replaced by Chideu. How Mine finished the match stronger as they sought the winner with Marere and Chikafa narrowly missing the target while Godfrey Nguwodzawo had his effort saved by Sibanda in the closing stages. Chikurupati retained fourth position on the log with 22 points while Highlanders dropped a rung to eighth position with 19 points to their credit.
Teams Highlanders: A Sibanda, W Chingodza, B Kangwa, E Mudzingwa, T Hadebe (D Sibanda 89), E Muzanenhamo, R Kutsanzira, K Nadolo (T Chideu 72), S Munawa, O Tarumbwa, K Mutizwa How Mine: D Bernard, T Khumbuyani, J Chitereki, N Tachi, M Kadzola, M Mupera, B Marere, W Sithole (M Sibanda 84), T January, L Chikafa (G Nguwodzawo 84), K Musharu
