Tsholotsho finally get it right

Sport
A SECOND half brace from Mostafa Ponyera and another goal from Blessing Sibanda saw Tsholotsho rise from a seven-match winless streak to beat visiting Hwange at Luveve Stadium yesterday.

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A SECOND half brace from Mostafa Ponyera and another goal from Blessing Sibanda saw Tsholotsho rise from a seven-match winless streak to beat visiting Hwange at Luveve Stadium yesterday.

BY FORTUNE MBELE

tsholotsho

Although the emphatic victory did not move them much on the log-table just riding over lowly Mutare City Rovers, Tsholotsho coach Lizwe Sweswe said the win would inspire them going forward and was confident of remaining in the Premier Soccer League.

“We played well, we always do. It was a matter of just getting the goals. My main worry was that we were not scoring. I think the win will inspire the boys for a positive attitude going forward and we will definitely survive,” Sweswe said.

He would not comment on the administrative side, saying it was the economic situation in the country and every team was struggling. Ponyera scored the first goal with a header in the 51st minute from a Nkosilathi Moyo cross from the left.

Skipper William Stima then sent him through in the 73rd minute and he beat his marker before unleashing a curling shot past Hwange goalkeeper Future Sibanda.

Utility player Stima pushed into attack and was in the thick of things, once more creating the third goal, which was scored by Sibanda three minutes later.

Inconsistent Hwange, who were coming from a 2-1 home win over title aspirants FC Platinum, had their coach Mebelo Njekwa blaming his boys for being complacent.

“The mind was not present at all and if it is not present, you cannot be positive. We were complacent. We tried at half time to tell the boys to bring back their minds to the game but footballers think of money first. But otherwise I see Hwange in top-flight football next year,” Njekwa said.

The coalminers remain on position 11 with 18 points, while Tsholotsho moved to 14 with 11 points after getting their third win of the season.

Teams:

Tsholotsho FC: N Marichi, M Phiri, N Moyo, Spar Dube, T Ncube, R Mufudza, A Ncube (C Dhuwa 79′), B Madanhire, W Stima, M Ponyera (M Ponyera 90+), B Sibanda

Hwange: F Sibanda, T Sibelo, O Moyo, I Mucheneka, A Chuma, F Vimisai (N Sianchali 59′), C Muleya, G Zulu, M Mungadze, G Mbweti