Gem Boys edge prison wardens

WHAWHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 MANICA DIAMONDS . . . . . (0)1

LIBERTY Chakoroma was the hero for Manica Diamonds as they laboured to a narrow win over WhaWha on a chilly afternoon at Ascot Stadium in Gweru yesterday.

Chakoroma scored the solitary goal of the match in controversial circumstances to secure maximum points for the Gem Boys on return from the midseason break.

The match was delayed for exactly 30 minutes because of a police official’s late arrival.

When the match eventually started, both teams gave a decent account of themselves, with WhaWha dominating for the better part of the match.

Manica Diamonds, however, began the match on the front-foot, with Chakoroma hitting the first shot on target in the second minute.

Talent Chamboko also came close after 14 minutes, forcing goalie Allan Masaya to make a reflex save from close range with a powerful left footer.

After 20 minutes, WhaWha were in ascendancy, controlling play in all respects with Calum English Brown and Evidence Mawanda being effective in their offensive roles.

Brown almost struck for the prison wardens in the 27th minute with a curling free-kick from just outside the box, with goalie Jorum Muchambo remaining rooted on one spot.

Eight minutes later, he forced a reactionary save from Muchambo when he curled in the ball from a corner kick, with Jayden Barake also forcing another save on the stroke of halftime.

The hosts picked up from where they left after the break, and Tineyi Chitora was first to get a clear opportunity, but his slicing effort missed the target by inches.

However, they were left to rue all those chances when they conceded on the hour mark from a free kick taken by Chakoroma.

The goal turned out to be controversial when goalie Masaya failed to collect the looping effort and it somehow crossed the line.

It could have been an easy catch, but the rookie goalie fumbled and it needed assistant Sibonokuhle Sibanda to confirm that it had crossed the line, much to the chagrin of the WhaWha players who mobbed the female assistant referee in the aftermath.

WhaWha gaffer Luke Petros was livid with the officiating.

“It’s pathetic that we played well, but the match was decided by poor officiating. That kills the spirit of football. That’s pathetic refereeing to say the least,” he said.

“I am not impressed by this. How do we motivate the players when the referees are doing this to us. As a coach, I am let down and the authorities must assist us.”

His counterpart Johannes Nhumwa said the result was fair.

“I have to admit that they played well and better than us, but we were lucky because of that effort by Liberty (Chakoroma). The team did well and I am happy that we started the second half on a winning note,” he said.

“This is good for us but we have to keep this winning spirit upto to the season because we have 16 games left until the season ends.”

Teams

WhaWha: A Masaya, T Magwaza, T Daka, R Useni, M Chirwa (S Ganje, 75’), R Horonga, E Calum, E Mawanda (D Mapuwa, 64’), T Chitora (A Matewu, 89’), J Barake, J Gadzani

Manica Diamonds: J Muchambo, L Masibera, T Ndlovu, T Chamboko, E Mafirenyika, L Chakoroma, J Takunda, P Manhanga, E Chingondi (B Chikwenya, 88’), M Tapera (L Katongomara, 88’), C Teguru (N Chintuli, 88’)