Bhekitemba Ndlovu start his tenure with a stalemate

Sports Reporter

Greenfuel F.C………..(1)1
Herentals F.C………..(1)1

Greenfuel striker Nqobile Ndlovu scored a historical first premiership goal for the Ethanol Boys as they shared spoils with The Students in their castle lager premiership home fixture played at Gibbo on Saturday.

Herentals who visited Gibbo for the second week in a row started better as they looked to unsettle the home side winning two corner kicks in the opening three minutes.

Herentals forward John Zhuwawo narrowly missed with a free header and it surely could have been a goal for the visitors in the fourth minute.

Greenfuel refused to be bullied and quickly responded as they caught their opponents on the break. Left back Nigel Matinha broke through with his blistering pace before unleashing a goalbound thunderbolt that deflected off the defender and over the bar for a corner kick in the 6th minute.

Ndlovu converted with a freeheader following a well taken corner by Bukosi Sibanda giving his side an early lead in the 7th minute.

Herentals had a chance to level scores but forward Davison Marowa blazed his effort over from close range, a big chance missed in the 21st minute.

The visitors continued to pile pressure, Edgar Mhungu saw his headed effort crash against the crossbar before the rebound was blocked and sailed wide for a corner kick in the 34th minute.

Tinotenda Benza levelled for the visiting side as he guided his effort with a right foot from the resultant set piece in the 35th minute.

Greenfuel head coach Bhekitemba Ndlovu made a tactical substitution, Ishmael Lawe replacing Collins Dhuwa in the 58th minute and Lawe could have made an instant impact on the hour mark but he fluffed his chance failing to poke the ball past hapless Herentals goalkeeper Takudzwa Chikosi.

Goalscorer Ndlovu failed to add to his tally as he pushed his effort inches wide when he tried to squeeze the ball on the near post following an inviting cross from Matinha in the 67th minute.

The home side continued searching for an equalizer which never came. Chikosi was brilliant on goals and kept Herentals in the game making another double save denying Lawe and Ndlovu in succession following some good advantage play from match official Arnold Ncube who had a very good day in the office.

Herentals coach Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva was happy with a point away from after what he described as a good match from his boys.

“It’s a very good point for the team on the road. We are recovering from a defeat at the same venue. The result could have gone our way because I feel we were a better team tactically.

“We will take the point and hope we can do better in our next fixture at home in front of our supporters. The point is surely the beginning of better things to come,” said Mutiwekuziva.

New Greenfuel coach Bhekitemba Ndlovu was also happy with the point in his first match in charge following the changes at Greenfuel’s technical team with him replacing Lloyd Mutasa who has been given a new role as a technical director.

“The boys played very well with good work ethic, we started on a high and scored a good early goal. I am just not happy with the goal that we let in, I feel it was a soft goal.

“We created a lot of chances in the second half but our biggest undoing was our finishing and we need to work on that ahead of our next match. I am not happy with the result but I think think this first point is good for us going forward.