Black Mambas…(1) 1
Motor Action…(1) 1
Evans Gwekwerere salvaged a draw for Black Mambas with a first half penalty after Emmanuel Mandiranga had thrust Motor Action into an early lead at Morris Depot yesterday.
BY MICHAEL MADYIRA
It was Gwekerere’s first Castle Lager Premier Soccer League start and maiden goal, since he returned from a short stint in Botswana.
After sharing a point, both sides did not move from their respective positions with Motor Action remaining at the foot of the table while Mambas are still at number 11 with 28 points.
Motor Action played the last three minutes of the match a man short, after captain Passmore Bernard was red-carded for diving inside the penalty box under the challenge of Last Chibwiro to infuriate the Prince Matore-headed Bulls bench which was calling for a penalty.
Bulls assistant coach David George, claimed first assistant Edgar Rumeli blatantly declared after the match that they would be relegated.
“The referee was the player here. How do we improve the standard of our game with such pathetic officiating?” fumed George.
“Fans pay their money to watch a football match, and this is the circus they come to witness. It is taking the glitter out of our game.”
Mandiranga finished a Walter Musona clinical flick to hand Motor Action the lead 14 minutes into the match.
But Gwekwerere slotted home from the spot nine minutes later after Collen Kwaramba was adjudged to have fouled Chibwiro.
A Chibwiro headed effort was to draw a spectacular save from impressive Motor Action teenage goalkeeper Bernard Donovan 11 minutes from the break.
The second period had Gwekwerere hitting the post with a powerful header off an Innocent Nyoni cross before he was denied by Donovan in a one-on-one situation, while Musona had a well-struck free-kick saved by Tonderayi Mateyaunga in goals for Mambas.