Zvishavane — SHABANIE Mine suffered their second lose at home this season when they went down fighting in this Castle Lager Premiership soccer match at Maglas yesterday. It was a game in which Gweru-based referee Thomas Massa failed to stamp his authority and even Motor Action who won the match also complained his poor handling of the match.

"The referee failed to control the match and his officiating was just terrible," said the Mighty Bulls assistant coach Prince Matore.

Shabanie were denied what looked like a clear penalty in the 22nd minute when leading scorer Nelson Maziwisa was brought down inside the box by Morris Kadzola but the referee instead gave them a corner.

He also failed to caution the visitors goalkeeper Marlon Jani for time wasting and tackles by Motor Action players went unpunished yet similar offences by Shabanie saw Simon Choenda and Caleb Masocha being cautioned.

Despite all this drama the Mighty Bulls opened the score-sheet in the 8th minute through former Shabanie Mine son Mercyful Ncube, who no longer has dreadlocks.

A back pass by Smart Muchabayiwa to goalkeeper Roy Mazingi saw the dependable goalminder reacting slowly to control the ball and hit straight into the path of Ncube gladly accepted "the gift" and slotted the ball into the empty net. The goal surprised the fans and even the miners as well and each time they tried to find an equaliser they could not penetrate the Mighty Bulls rearguard.

Substitute Fortune Ncube put the scores beyond the reach of Shabanie in the 82nd minute.

A shot by Gift Phiri was blocked by Mazingi and the asbestos miners defence failed to clear their lines, resulting in the alert Ncube slotting the rebound home.

"I am happy with the win and I hope we will continue to be focused and collect more points. The team is on the rise," said an elated Mighty Bulls head coach Joey Antipas after the match.

Shabanie's morale was down after the executive failed to pay them their winning bonuses for the Gunners match.

They are also owed their signing-on fees and this hasl ed to two consecutive defeats for a team that has had taken the league by surprise.

"I hope my bosses will sleep well tonight because they no longer want the team to win as they do not want to pay the players their bonuses. I am doing my best with the players but they are not happy," said Shabanie coach Luke Masomere.

"Veddette Trading our sponsors, myself, the players, the fans are not happy about the defeats but the mine bosses are happy. I have too many problems here caused by them. Tell them Masomere said sleep well and enjoy. Every team can lose, yes, but our bosses are not here for football.

"Maybe one day they will learn football. I am putting a lot of effort and this stresses me," he added.

After the match fans were calling for the club's official Fidelis Chimedza ouster and had to fight running battles with the police as they held placards calling for Chimedza to go.

The Chinda Boys patron Greg Mataka, however, defended Chimedza saying the club had no money.

"We do not have the money and every cent from the gate takings is accounted for so fans should not think that they are people in the executive spending the money," he said.

Teams

Shabanie Mine: R. Mazingi, P. Zimunya, S. Choenda, P. Mudena (C. Masocha 55th minute), P. Sithole, J. Chisunga (R. Sibanda 66th minute), T. Rukanda, N. Maziwisa, S. Muchabayiwa, W Ngoma.

Motor Action: M. Jani, J. Benard, B. Chimwamuchere, Y. Ebabani Esisa, P. Kabwe, M. Kadzola, N. Maroto (F. Ncube 73rd minute), I. Masame, G. Moyo, M. Ncube, G. Phiri (M. Mburayi 90th minute.

Shabanie Mine................... (0) 0

Motor Action..................... (1) 2