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Charles Sibanda

From Ricky Zililo in Bulawayo
Highlanders . . . . . . . . . .(1) 3
How Mine . . . . . . . . . . . .(0) 1HIGHLANDERS displayed a smash and grab show at Hartsfield yesterday, booting How Mine out of the Chibuku Super Cup competition, in the process sailing through to the semi-finals.

The Bulawayo giants recovered from last weekend’s embarrassing 1-4 defeat by Dynamos to pummel How Mine, courtesy of goals by man-of-the-match Felix Chindungwe, defender Dumisani  Ndlovu and Charles Sibanda.

Chindungwe, who is enjoying a game of his life at Bosso ever since being deployed to play as a defensive midfielder, gave Highlanders the lead in the 28th minute, heading home a Joel Ngodzo cross from a free-kick.

Bosso had been awarded a free-kick on the right side after How Mine’s leftback James Chitereki handled the ball in an effort to clear.
Ndlovu doubled Highlanders’ lead with a rare goal 10 minutes into the second half, heading home a Charles Sibanda corner kick. A minute before scoring his first goal for the Bulawayo giants, the Bosso central defender had his grounder saved by How Mine’s goalkeeper Nonjabulo Dube before Chitereki cleared the rebound for a corner.

It was from the resultant corner that Ndlovu scored.

Sibanda put the game to bed from the penalty spot in the 67th minute. Jittery How Mine’s central defender Nelson Tachi had brought down Sibanda in the box and referee Thomas Masaa rightfully pointed to the spot.

Two minutes later, How Mine got their consolation from their leading goalscorer Kuda Musharu who got to the end of a Mandla Sibanda flick off a Menard Mupera cross from the left.

Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu was pleased with the result.

“It was a good response after that humiliating defeat to Dynamos. This victory gives confidence to the team. We thank God for progressing to the next stage of the competition,” he said.

Both teams’ performances were far from convincing as they failed to string more than four passes.

How Mine could have taken the lead just after the quarter-hour mark when Caleb Masocha laid a pass for Wonder Sithole who hit a perfect shot which was brilliantly saved by Highlanders goalkeeper and new captain Ariel Sibanda.

Typical of a derby, the match saw many players getting away with crude tackles. Chindungwe ejected Highlanders’ fans from their seats in the 35th minute when he tried a spectacular kick from a tight angle but his effort narrowly missed the target.

Musharu should have equalised for How Mine on the stroke of half-time after getting to the end of a Masocha pass but he could not keep his effort on target. How Mine’s biggest undoing was their failure to convert their chances with one of the scoring opportunities falling to Masocha after the hour mark but the striker headed straight into the hands of Ariel Sibanda.

Thembani Masuku’s pile-driver forced Ariel to go airborne and tip it for corner four minutes before the end of the match.

How Mine’s coach Luke Masomere rued missed chances and took a rant on his defenders.

“It was a good game but we conceded soft goals and failed to convert the chances that we created. My main worry is with the defence because the rate we are conceding goals is not pleasing at all. We have to work hard to solve the problem at the back.

“I think bowing out of the competition gives us time to concentrate on our league games so that we finish in a respectable position,” Masomere said.

Teams

How Mine: Nonjabulo Dube, Morris Kadzola, James Chitereki, Gilbert Banda, Nelson Tachi, Menard Mupera, Edmore Muzanenhamo (Emmanuel Mandiranga, 77th minute), Wonder Sithole (Thembani Masuku, 63rd minute), Kuda Musharu, Caleb Masocha, Godfrey Nguwodzawo (Mandla Sibanda, 54th minute)

Highlanders: Ariel Sibanda, Webster Chingodza, Bruce Kangwa, Erick Mudzingwa, Dumisani Ndlovu, Felix Chindungwe, Joel Ngodzo (Tapiwa Dephistara, 72nd minute), Simon Munawa (Pasca Manhanga, 56th minute), Rahman Kutsanzira (Welcome Ndiweni, 80th minute), Gabriel Nyoni, Charles Sibanda