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NewsDay

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Mambas bite Buffaloes

Sport
BLACK MAMBAS recorded an important away win after they defeated Buffaloes 2-1 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer league match at Sakubva Stadium yesterday

BLACK MAMBAS recorded an important away win after they defeated Buffaloes 2-1 in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer league match at Sakubva Stadium yesterday.

Report by Kenneth Nyangani

Buffaloes . . . . . . (0) 1 Black Mambas . . . . . (1) 2

The police outfit, which had gone for five matches without collecting maximum points, scored in each half through Tsepo Ranthokoane and Nicholas Alifandika.

Mambas dominated the match in midfield where the army side lost possession unnecessarily as they missed the services of their key players Prosper Matizanadzo and Shepherd Nkata who are both on the treatment table.

There were changes in the Mambas line up as goalkeeper Hopeful Bere, who played in the first two games of the season, returned to the team alongside Phillip Thembani and Jeffrey Takunda.

Buffaloes thought they had won a penalty in the 28th minute, but referee Brighton Chimene adjudged that Tawanda Mareya had dived and he was given a yellow card.

Mambas surged ahead in the 40th minute through Ranthokoane who headed home an Alifandika cross from the left flank. The police outfit could have increased their lead in the 44th minute, but Nhlanhla Ncube, who had benefited from the soldiers’ defensive mix up, shot wide from close range.

Alifandika increased his side’s lead in the 57th minute from a free kick just outside his opposition box.

Buffaloes coach Saul Chaminuka introduced three substitutes in the 63rd minute bringing in Steven Sibanda for Douglas Zimbango, Michael Mageja for Wonder Sithole and Admire Dzumbunu for Mareya.

The move helped as they began to dictate the pace and Mambas survived the Buffaloes’ late onslaught. Substitute Sibanda headed home a pin-point cross from Never Musvipa from the left flank in the 73th minute, but they could not get the equaliser.

Mambas assistant coach Martin Bonongwe said after the match: “We got a lot of chances and we managed to score only two. We managed to win the match after we had gone for five matches without collecting maximum points.”

Results at a glance

Yesterday: Highlanders 1-2 How Mine, Caps United 0-1 Dynamos, Buffaloes 1-2 Black Mambas, Hwange 3-1 Tripple B Saturday: Monomotapa 1-1 FC Platinum, Black Rhinos 0-1 Chicken Inn, Motor Action 2-1 Shabanie Mine Friday: Harare City 2-0 Triangle