Triangle United Goalkeeper suffers horrific broken leg

Triangle United goalkeeper Hamilton Makainganwa faces a potentially career-ending injury after suffering a gruesome leg break during a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash against Manica Diamonds at Gibbo Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The match was marred by the shocking injury incident that occurred early in the first half, following a brutal collision with Manica Diamonds striker Tinotenda Musariranwa. The forward was immediately shown a straight red card by referee Kwanele Manenda for the reckless challenge.

Makainganwa, who had started the game in goal for Triangle, was stretchered off the pitch in visible agony, prompting a lengthy stoppage and emotional scenes from both sets of players. Substitute goalkeeper Prince Mujuru was brought on as a replacement.

Despite playing with ten men for more than 85 minutes, Manica Diamonds showed tremendous resolve and resilience to grind out a narrow 1–0 victory—ending a frustrating run of six consecutive draws and injecting fresh momentum into their campaign.

The winning goal came in the 86th minute through Bret Amidu, who calmly slotted home from inside the box after an incisive counterattack initiated by Charles Teguru down the left wing.

Earlier in the match, Triangle United squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead. In the 58th minute, they were awarded a penalty after David Chipo was penalised for a handball inside the area. However, Thabani Kamusoko's tame spot-kick was easily saved by Manica Diamonds goalkeeper Tedious Baye, drawing groans of disappointment from the home crowd.

The loss was a bitter blow for Triangle, who remain mired in the relegation zone and continue to struggle for consistency. Head coach Genesis Mangombe expressed his deep frustration after the match, pointing to a lack of squad depth and maturity as key concerns.

"We have a lot of work to do to survive the chop. We don't have depth in our squad and even if you want to make a substitution you cannot do it because you are limited," Mangombe said. "We were not supposed to lose this game at all costs, but we lacked maturity and depth."

The victory sees Manica Diamonds strengthen their position in the top half of the table, while Triangle's top-flight survival hopes hang in the balance—now further complicated by the long-term absence of their first-choice goalkeeper.

Meanwhile, Makainganwa is expected to undergo surgery in the coming days, with the club set to provide an official update on his condition. Support has poured in from across the football fraternity, with fans and fellow players expressing solidarity and wishing him a full recovery.