How Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2 Tripple B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
SUKOLUHLE MTHETHWA
HOW Mine are the new Castle Lager Premier Soccer League leaders after winning the battle of new boys against Tripple B in a season opener at White City Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday.
Harare City are second after overcoming Caps United 1-0 at Rufaro Stadium while Hwange and Motor Action are in third and fourth place after they fought out a goalless draw at Motor Action Sports Club in one of the matches played on the opening day.
While How Mine’s stay at the top could last just 24 hours, they deserved it after changing tactics following a goalless first half to overcome Friday Phiri’s men. Simba Sithole gave How Mine the lead in the 56th minute and Timothy January added the second in the 80th minute to seal a memorable start.
Coach Philani Mabhena said after the match: “It was a good result for us and we are happy because we want to fight for our survival. We settled down quite early and we dominated the game. If we had made the right choices going forward we could have wrapped up the game early,” he said.
Tripple B coach Phiri was disappointed with the result, but said he is confident that his side will start getting results.
“It is very unfortunate that we lost. We got our chances, but we failed to utilise them. We failed to defend because we lost the ball on the blind side. We might have lost, but I am very happy with the material we have. Our finishing let us down, that was our own worst enemy. We still have a few grey areas we need to rectify,” he said.
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Sithole had his first chance to score as early as the 16th minute with a good turn just outside the box, but was unlucky to see his effort going wide after being set up by Arnold Ndiweni.
How Mine seemed to be eager for an early goal as defender Hebert Dick ventured upfront in the 27th minute, but his cross found no takers inside the box as the first half turned to be a tale of missed chances at both ends.
Webster Chingodza could have thrust the visitors ahead in the 53rd minute, but his header went wide. A minute later, Thandazani Ndlovu’s blistering shot was punched out by Tripple B goalkeeper Donald Mutali.
How Mine continued to venture upfront and were rewarded in the 56th minute when Ndlovu’s shot was handled by a Tripple B player.
While the other players were still clamouring for a penalty the ball fell to Sithole who fired past Mutali. The How Mine defence, which also featured Gilbert Banda and Khumbulani Banda, stood firm and thwarted most moves as Tripple B were searching for an equaliser. Sithole then provided an assist 10 minutes from time, feeding substitute January whose blistering volley did not give Tripple B goalkeeper any chance.
