The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda Senior Sports Reporter
Chicken Inn ……………………………………(2) 3
Harare City …………………………………………0
CHICKEN Inn got their season off to a bright start when they fired three past Harare City in an action filled Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match played at Luveve Stadium in Bulawayo yesterday. First half goals from Canaan Nkomo, Mkhokheli Dube and a second half strike from substitute Ishmael Lawe saw the Joey Antipas-coached Gamecocks collect the three points.
It took Chicken Inn seven minutes to find the target, Nkomo coming to the end of an immaculate exchange of passes between Brian Juru and Dube, which saw Nkomo firing from close range past Zimbabwe Warriors fringe goalminder Maxwell Nyamupangedengu in goals for Harare City.
The visitors came close to finding the equaliser when with 12 minutes played, Mhleli Sibanda unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box which a rather jittery Chicken Inn goalkeeper Liberty Chirava did well to save.
Chicken Inn had an opportunity to double their lead in the 27th minute, defender Moses Jackson sent through on the right side but his shot was not powerful enough to cause any problems for Nyamupangedengu.
A few minutes later, Brian Juru of Chicken Inn saw his speculative goal attempt from outside the box go over the bar.
The home side doubled up their lead with 34 minutes played, Dube controlling well a switch pass from the left and held his composure to blast the ball past Nyamupangedengu.
Harare City came back strongly in the second half in a bid to overturn the deficit. Four minutes after the break, Phineas Bhamusi’s cross into the box fell to Nathan Ziwini whose header was saved by Chirava.
Martin Vengesayi blew a goal scoring chance for the visitors when he shot over the bar in the 56th minute.
Chicken Inn captain Danny Phiri wasted an opportunity to make it three for his team when he could not keep the ball down from a free kick outside the box awarded after Bhekimpilo Ncube had been fouled.
Just after being brought in for Tendai Mukambi, Lawe came close to scoring the third goal for the Gamecocks but was disturbed before he could pull the trigger and his shot at goal proved too weak to trouble Nyamupangedengu.
Harare City substitute Talent Chawapihwa wasted a glorious goal scoring prospect for his side when he was sent through on the left side only for him to guide his effort wide.
Chicken Inn completed the rout with a minute before full-time, Nyamupangedengu failing to make a clean save off a Ncube goal attempt and the ball fell for Lawe who slammed it into the back of the nets.
Bigboy Mawiwi, the Harare City coach described yesterday’s loss as a setback for his team, which they had to correct in their next match. He blamed the loss to a relaxed approach to the game by his players especially in the early stages of the match.
“It is a bad start for us, we made some schoolboy blunders especially in the opening 10 minutes from which they scored.
“We were casual in our approach, hopefully the youngsters will correct these mistakes, we need to win the next match,’’ said Mawiwi.
Meanwhile, in Chiredzi Langton Nyakwenda reports that; a late equaliser by Thabani Kamusoko spoiled Moses Chunga’s return to the Premiership as 10-men Chiredzi almost shocked pre-season favourites FC Platinum in an exciting match played at Shamiso yesterday.
Bambo’s Chiredzi FC silky for most parts of the game took the lead after only 30 seconds when Munya Chiwara tapped home a cross from the lively Tapiwa Dethisitara.
The home team cheered on by thousands of supporters on their Premier League debut hung onto the lead up until two minutes into stoppage time when Kamusoko broke their hearts with a thumping header off a corner by Rafael Muduviwa but Chiredzi will regret the two golden chances missed by substitute and crowd favourite Sam Musimba and the trickery Desithara.
In the capital Mighty Warriors and Black Rhinos striker Rutendo Makore ran riot scoring five goals as Mufakose Queens were pummelled into submission during a NetOne Knockout Tournament semi-final played at Rufaro yesterday.
Black Rhinos now await the winner from the other semi-final set for today pitting Inline Soccer Academy and Cyclone Stars in Bulawayo.
But it was the sharp boot worn by Makore yesterday that will remain the talk of the tournament going into the finals.
However, Mufakose Queens can only blame themselves for falling apart in the second half as they went on the break trailing by only a goal.
