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By Milton Mashasha.

Bulawayo City……………(1) 2
Howmine FC …………….(2) 2

Harare, Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) – Zimbabwean premier soccer league kicked off yesterday afternoon at White City Stadium piting the debutants Bulawayo City fc against Kelvin Kaindu’s coached side Howmine FC.The match which was beamed live by supersport ended in a (2-2) two all draw.The City fc donned the kit similar to the popular EPL club Arsenal.Their jersey and shots were a replica of Arsenal ,with red and white jersey and white shots.

It was a lukewarm match with both teams failing to make constructive passes.There was little cohesion in the players from both sides,it might be due to the long layoff without competitive matches during the off season or the stadium White city which is a bit small compared to Barbourfields which allows and permits a free flow of the match especially if teams are playing a passing game.

The home team Bulawayo City fc fielded tried and tested players in the form of the goalkeeper Ndodana Sibanda,Brighton Dube,Xolani Moyo,Mkhokheli Dube,Morris Kadzola,Lewis Ncube,Proud Zireni and the former Caps United player Moja.Also other players who were introduced as substitutes for City are the veteran Muthulisi Maphosa,Trevor and H.”muchichwa” Ncube.

The gold miners Howmine fc had Munyaradzi Diya in goals,Victor Kamhuka, the (Captain)Tapiwa khumbuyani,Praise Tonha,Pasca Manhanga,Tawanda Muparati,Charles Sibanda,Thembani Masuku,Kuda Musharu and young Adolf.Whereas Marshal Machazane,Godfrey Nguvodzavo and Fungai came in as substitutes.

It was Howmine fc who drew first blood in the 34 minute scoring through Pasca Manhanga.Howmine got a corner kick and they took it shot,laying the ball to an unmarked Pasca from the corner kick spot and the pint sized midfielder made no mistake driving a hard and low shot from outside the 18 yards box to beat Ndodana Sibanda in goals for the home side Bulawayo City.When Bulawayo City fc was still trying to make amends to level terms,Howmine fc was at it again 2 minutes later this time through the nomadic former Motor Action,Fc Platinum and Highlanders striker Charles Sibanda.Kuda Musharu and Pasca Manhanga made some inter-exchanges of passes outside the 18 yards box before laying the ball to Charles who unleashed a grounder that beat Ndodana Sibanda in the 37 minute.In the 42 minute Tawanda Muparati came close to put his name in the score sheet but his shot was blocked and the rebound went over the cross bar.

It looked like Kaindu was going to collect all the 3 points but alas Philani “Beefy”Ncube had other ideas.In the last minute of the first half,the Howmine fc towering defender who was partnering Khumbuyani in the Central defence,Victor Kamhuka was adjudged to have fouled Mkhululi Moyo the city foward inside the 18yards box.The referee of the afternoon ignored the foul but it was the assistant referee who was close to the scene who raised his flag signalling a foul.The referee then pointed to the penalty spot awarding City a spot kick.Victor Kamhuka was shocked by the decision and he rushed to the referee to appeal against the decision but surprisingly he was shown a straight red card.

The skipper Xolani “Skara” Moyo took responsibility to take the spot kick.He sent Diya the wrong way to make it 2-1in added time 45+ minutes.The match went to a breather Howmine fc leading 2-1 but there were now down by one man.

The match resumed in the second half Bulawayo City fc being a better side using the numerical advantage.In the 48 minute Lewis “Rambo” Ncube came close to level terms but his hard and low shot was saved by the alert Diya.Lewis Ncube the former Highlanders fc player was the most busiest player in the City squad,he was operating in the wings shifting from left to right but later he was dropped to his usual right back position.In 50 minute Lewis flighted a cross after spoting substitute H “muchichwa” Ncube just outside the 18 yards box.Lewis’s long pass was headed to the goal by Muchichwa but Diya punched the ball unfortunately the ball fell on Muchichwa’s path who scored using his chest to hit the ball into an empty net.Diya failed to cut the crossed and chose to remain rooted in his goal line giving advantage to the City play who was un marked to receive the ball freely.City levelled terms making it 2-2.

Both teams made changes in the early stages of the second half City pulling out Mkhokheli Dube and Morris Kadzola bringing in Trevor and Ncube “Muchichwa”H though Muthulisi Maphosa was introduced later whilst Howmine Fc pulled out Muparati for a defender Machazane M,Adolf was also substituted and they brought in Fungai who played in the right side of the midfield but after their defensive linkman Thembani Masuku was substituted being replaced by Godfrey Nguvodzavo,Fungai dropped to the defensive role.Tapiwa Khumbuyani nearly punished City with his curling free kick outside the Howmine penalty missing the left upright corner by few inches.Moreso Pasca came close to scramble a victory for Howmine but he failed to score in close range.

It was a game of halves with Howmine fc dominating in the first half whereas Bulawayo City Fc came strong in the second half to force a (2-2) two all draw sharing the spoils.

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