Tawachera decries Ndazi penalty decision as Byo City lose

Bulawayo City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 Herentals College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

BULAWAYO City coach, Farai Tawachera was at a loss for words at the decision by referee Hardly Ndazi to award a penalty to Herentals at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday, which resulted in a second defeat in a row for his team in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.

With the match appearing to be headed for a draw, Hwange-based Ndazi, who is not new to controversy, decided that the coming together between City defender Wilfred Munorwei and Herentals’ substitute Prince Chama constituted an impediment on the Students’ player. Brighton Majarira converted the spot kick to condemn City to a second consecutive loss after they went down by a similar margin against Highlanders at the same venue last Sunday.

“I don’t know if I lost, I don’t want to comment. If teams are playing with a balanced scale, why give a favour? If teams are playing balanced, let them play. We might have not done well in terms of performance but I think we were still in there,’’ lamented Tawachera.

“What I saw and what the referee did, I don’t want to talk about it, because I think we didn’t defend well, that’s why I say I don’t want to comment about the penalty.’’

On what the defeat means for City who are fighting against demotion to the lower league, Tawachera feels that they have been disrupted but vowed that they will come back tougher.

“It’s a derailment, we’ve just been derailed and we will come back strong. It’s a wake-up call for the boys, maybe they thought winning three games it’s a walk in the park, it’s not like that, we have to work hard,’’ remarked Tawachera.

Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva, the Herentals coach was pleased to have picked up the first win over a Bulawayo team this season. Before yesterday’s victory, the Students had not won against any of the Bulawayo-based teams.

“A very important three points away in Bulawayo, this is our first set of three points against a Bulawayo team. I am quite impressed with the points because points are very important more than anything else regardless of how we got the goal,’’ said Mutiwekuziva.

The Herentals gaffer could not be drawn to comment on the penalty decision which went his team’s way.

“It was a match balanced with chances to both sides but we just utilised the penalty that we were awarded by the referee. I couldn’t comment much more on the penalty because I have to see a replay of how it happened but it propelled us to victory,’’ he said.

City were the first to have a shot at goal when Munorwei in the sixth minute had his effort from a free-kick outside the box pushed over the bar by Takufzwa Chikosi in goals for the visitors. Chikosi was called into action again in the 26th to guide Dalubuhle Dlodlo’s effort over the bar.

Brighton Majarira in the 38th minute rattled the upright with a powerful strike. Herentals substitute Chama had his header stopped by the post and eventually pushed out for a corner kick by Reward Muza.

Teams

Bulawayo City: R Muza, L Lunga (L Ncube 37 mins) M Moyo, L Sibanda, W Munorwei (Farasi 85 mins) , M Ncube, C Chinomona, W Ndiweni (Tarumbwa 80 mins), G Mutungamiri (Makopa 46 mins), C Machisi, D Dlodlo (Ndlovu 80 mins)

Herentals College: T Chikosi, B Majarira, T Benza (Maliselo 89 mins), D Marowa (Chimwemwe 71 mins), G Mukambi, P Chota (Chama 46 mins), I

Benza (Mhungu 56 mins), J Zhuwawo (A Majarira 71 mins) , W Chimbetu, W Kapumha, L Ruguchu

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