KWEKWE UNITED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
SIMBA BHORA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
KWEKWE United coach Saul Chaminuka let his frustration out, as he felt his team was robbed by referee Grace Gimo in their 2-1 loss to Simba Bhora on Wednesday at Bata Stadium.
Chaminuka was animated as usual on the touchline, vigorous as ever, at the same time showing his temperamental side, after conceding a last-gasp goal that sealed his side’s fate.
Trevor Mavhunga scored the decisive goal for the 2024 champions in the referee’s additional time.
First, Never Tigere thrust Buju’s Boys ahead with a thunderous free-kick from outside the box in the 26th minute.
Kwekwe then equalised via an equally powerful strike, from Mbongeni Minezhi in the 69th minute.
But that was not enough to salvage a draw at home.
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And coach Chaminuka, who had a stand-off with match officials, particularly in the second half, was furious.
“I think a team that is preparing for the Champions League should be winning games fairly. Sometimes you fail to understand where you get it wrong because certain people decide who wins the game,” he said.
“It’s sad and unfortunate that they rob you at home. When you go away, they rob you again.
“So where will be the game played on even terms. This game could have ended 1-1. With a little bit of luck, we could have won it.”
His counter Joel Lupahla said: “It’s good that we won. I’m disappointed that we conceded. They scored a good goal and we can’t run away from that.
“Kwekwe United play so well. I think they will do well and be problematic to many teams. People don’t give them the respect they deserve. They are a good team.”
As largely expected, Simba Bhora started the match in high tempo, pressing the Kwekwe United defence from all angles.
They almost scored as early as the sixth minute, with Kwekwe United needing a Brian Kativhu clearance on the line from what was a goal-bound effort by Donald Mudadi.
The former Dynamos came close to scoring in the 18th minute, but goalkeeper Lennon Gonese made an acrobatic save to deny the Shamva-based side.
They finally broke the deadlock in the 26th minute, via Tigere’s beautiful free-kick from just outside the box.
Two minute later, towering defender Isheanesu Mauchi forced Gonese to make another diving save with a powerful header from a corner-kick.
Simba Bhora returned from the break with the same energy.
But Kwekwe restored parity via a thumping strike from Minezhi from the left wing, with goalie William Thole remaining rooted at one spot.
But Mavhunga weighed in with the decisive goal in the referee’s additional time, after slotting the ball home past a forest of legs in a goalmouth melee.
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