Chinhoyi Stars shock Black Mambas

By Lovemore Chazingwa at Mkushi Academy Sports Club

Black Mambas …. 0
Chinhoyi Stars ….. 1

Chinhoyi Stars pilled shame on police side Black Mambas after they bagged maximum points at the opponents’ fortress, Mkushi Academy Sports Club, formerly Morris Deport, in a Monday afternoon fixture.
A cheeky 21st minute free kick by mercurial Ezekiel Chikuwa found Lee Runodamoto tussling with defenders in the sixteen yard box and the attacking midfielder outsmarted his markers to slot the ball with a sleek header past a diving Innocent Mangezi between the posts for the host.
Runodamoto was all smiles after the match, ”I feel so happy to have scored the only goal of the match. This is special because it is my first of the season. Also we’re playing away from home and it inspires me that much more. The points earned today will help us move up the log standing since we’re in a lowly position,” said the diminutive midfielder.
The goal fired up an initially pedestrian Chinhoyi Stars.
It brought more life and confidence among the visiting lads.
It is their gunman Tineyi ‘Senior Lecturer’ Chitora who was roaming upfront without any meaningful contribution to the attack. He seemed to have left his shooting boots at Chinhoyi Caves.
Senior Lecturer was later substituted in the second half making way for Blessed Mumba.
Black Mambas regained composure and purpose after the break. They were on the offensive in frantic efforts to find an equalizer.
On the other side, Chinhoyi Stars were gasping to maintain their slim lead.
Against the run of play, Stars parked the bus for the remaining half hour of regular time.
Mumba was the lone figure taking care of business upfront for the tourist, with the rest camped in their own half for defence.
That scenario put Warumwa Warumwa in full control of the match only to be let down by shooting precision.
Delane Chada, Elvis Dahwa, Leeroy Ndlovu, Munyaradzi Chirwa and Zivanai Mhanda being the main accomplices.
Anxious moments galore followed for Stars.
One moment saw the ball hit the cross bar. In quick succession, a goal mouth melee had three penalty appeals by Mambas players, within a minute, turned down by the firm ref.
Warumwa Warumwa, a Shona expression meaning whoever falls victim to a mamba bite, should nurse their own fate.
Ironically, the bite came to haunt them in their backyard, Monday.
The police side are a pale shadow of the merciless reputation they are known for at their fortress.
Watched by a chess crowd, the yawning stadium patently reminded organizers to rethink Monday work time fixtures.