Exsto Makunzva/
Davison Marenga
It was a fierce battle between miners when Shabani Mine FC crushed a stubborn Ivan Hall Mine 1-0 in a crunch fixture at Maglas Stadium in Zvishavane last Sunday.
The win left Shabani two points clear leading the Central Division 1 League and left them confident of a return to the top flight league next season.
The determined Chinda Boys, seemed well prepared to clip the wings of the high flying Ivan Hall Mine FC which had not known any defeat since the beginning of the Central Region Division 1 league.
Ivan Hall goalkeeper, Alfonsi Banda kept frustrating the hosts’ frantic efforts to see the back of the net until the 7th minute when a slick pass from Bruno Mtigo to Admire Mutsambwa resulted in the goal.
The goal was a wakeup call for the visitors as who maintained their dominance of possession in the midfield, with Kudzai Matore creating good forward moves only to be let down by their final third.
They were awarded a free kick in the 30th minute which they, however, failed to convert into a goal.
Tempers flared when the match was stopped for five minutes after a horror tackle by Shabani’s Moses Moyo against David Semba nearly resulted in a fist fight which saw Ivan Hall’s medic being red-carded for incitement.
The second half again saw a resurgence of the tempers and resulted in about 30 minutes delay with police being called after agitated Shabani supporters started to throw objects onto the pitch.
Shabanie FC coach Tendai Chikuni had to ask his captain to pacify angry supporters.
Speaking after the match, Shabanie FC gaffer Tendai Chikuni said he knew the game was going to be tough as Ivan Hall was not an easy opponent.
“I told the guys that we needed a score in the first 15 minutes to unsettle the opponent and I am happy we managed to do that,” said Chikuni, adding he was, however, not happy with the officiating.
Ivan Hall coach, Isaac Nyabvure accepted the defeat with humility but was quick to condemn the violence that rocked the game.
“It’s one of the unfortunate things that happen in football. There is nothing too strange about that, the better team won the game,” said Nyabvure.sport
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