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NewsDay

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Shabanie Mine hold Saints

Sport
Zimbabwe Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 Shabanie Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 Shabanie Mine held a depleted Zimbabwe Saints in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Luveve Stadium on Thursday. Zimbabwe […]

Zimbabwe Saints . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 Shabanie Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

Shabanie Mine held a depleted Zimbabwe Saints in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Luveve Stadium on Thursday.

Zimbabwe Saints were without defenders Peter Muzondo, Tafadzwa Maingire, Philip Sithole and midfielder Leo Kurauzvione, who reportedly went absent without absent official leave in protest over unpaid salaries.

It is understood that the players did not report back for duty after they were given a long weekend off when the Warriors played Mali in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier last week.

“The four players from Harare never came back after the Warriors’ break. They are protesting over monies they are owed and morale is very low in camp,” a source said.

Beaven Chikaka, Ngonidzashe Murisa and goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya reported for training on Wednesday morning, the source said.

Chikwata’s organising secretary Jabulani Chinyangarara played down the issue on Thursday and said all the players are around but only came back late from Harare.

Chinyangarara said Sithole is injured and the other players would be available for selection for the derby against Highlanders subject to the coaches’ consideration.

Chikwata only had three players on the bench during Thursday’s match.

Despite the draw with the Chinda Boys, Zimbabwe Saints was the better side but wasted several chances that could have seen them collect maximum points.

Shabanie Mine came in at high tempo when the game started but they were thwarted by impressive centre-back Danisa Phiri, who had a marvellous day.

Winger Tawanda Mareya got the balls on the counter-attack on the right flank, but failed to make use of the chances.

The rest of the first half did not offer much as both sides failed to produce any purposeful attacks.

A minute into the second half, Fortune Nyambosi, who usually comes from the bench for Chikwata, broke loose on the right flank and flighted in a beautiful cross which Joel Nyama could not connect with a header.

Nyambosi, was pulled out for an ineffective Murisa in the 57th minute. But it was to be Zimbabwe Saints who bombarded the Shabanie Mine’s goal area for the better part of the second half, with midfielder Ntokozo Tshuma in the thick of things in every instant.

Chikaka was unlucky in the 73rd minute after his shot from inside the box was saved by Shabanie Mine goalkeeper Roy Mazingi.

Two minutes later, Nyama also had the biggest miss with only Mazingi to beat after Tshuma set him up inside the visitors’ goal area.