Harare City… (1) 1 Shabanie Mine… (1) 2
BY MICHAEL MADYIRA
Veteran defender Zvenyika Makonese carried Shabanie Mine’s day with a second half strike that earned his side this season’s maiden Premier Soccer League away victory and also ended Harare’s City’s four match unbeaten streak.
Martin Vengesai had thrust City ahead 14 minutes into the match before Ashley Mukwena levelled for the visitors from the penalty spot two minutes before half time after William Manondo had handled inside City’s box.
In his fourth game of the season, 37-year-old Makonese broke the impasse with 12 minutes to go and mocked City with a Samuel Eto’o “old man” celebration.
Although they gained maximum points, Shabanie Mine remained unmoved on eighth spot on the log but left coach John Phiri showering Makonese with praise.
“He showed that he can play because many people had written him off. I am happy for him because he helped us get maximum points. We just have to continue picking up points away,” said Phiri.
City remained in the relegation zone with coach Bigboy Mawiwi saying they were their own worst enemy.
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“I was always telling my players that Shabanie Mine are a good side and they just proved it. If you take things for granted, you will be disappointed at the end of the day. We have no one to blame but ourselves,” said Mawiwi.
City enjoyed the larger share of possession in the first half where Agrippa Murimba could have scored with two fair goal chances in a period where Shabanie never created any meaningful scoring opportunity.
Even in the second half, the visitors never threatened with their only chance being Makonese’s goal.
