How Mine edge City
Bulawayo City FC ………………… 0 (0) How Mine FC ……………………….. 0 (1) A HEADER from striker Kudakwashe Musharu was all How Mine needed to collect maximum points against Bulawayo City in a lukewarm Castle Lager Premier Soccer League derby played at Barbourfields yesterday.
The coming in of Peter “Rio” Moyo for Toto Banda in the 49th minute brought in some life to How Mine’s play in the midfield and the former Highlanders player started the move that resulted in the goal. Moyo sent the ball to Praise Tonha on the right flank and he pushed it to Tsepo Ranthokoane whose inviting cross was met by Musharu’s powerful header. City’s play failed to come to life with little action upfront particularly in the second half.
Amakhosi’s coach, Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu expressed disappointment with the result and rued the missed chances in the first half.
“Three points gone at home, it’s sad. We have not been as consistent as much as I would have loved to but we played good football in the first half and at one point we were in control and created a few chances that unfortunately we couldn’t bury. In the second half we were let down by poor defending particularly in shutting out the goal that we conceded. I think we need to go back to the drawing board and work on our weakness and we can pull through,” he said, adding he would be beefing up his arsenal during the mid-season transfer window.
How Mine coach, Kelvin Kaindu was happy with walking away with the full set of points.
“It was a difficult game and I am glad our only move in the second half paid off but we tended to play too much in our own half something that stifled us. Last season the games that we lost a lot of points were in derbies and I am happy so far this season we have managed to pick nine points from derbies and slowly we are marching and trying to catch up with teams at the top of the log,” he said.
Teams: Bulawayo City: A Ngwenya, Z Ngodzo, M Mungadze, N Mukumbi, Z Sibanda, K Madzongwe, I Kutsanzira, R Pavari (H Masuku, 76th), T Ndlovu (H Ncube, 78th), M Moyo (C Rupiya, 66th), M Dube How Mine: M Diya, P Tonha, M Ncube, K Chideu, F Makarati, M Sakala (M Mukamba, 46th), T Ranthokoane, P Manhanga, T Banda (P Moyo, 49th), K Musharu, T January (N Ndlovu, 68th)