The Sunday News
Chicken Inn …………………………………………………………… (2) 3
Harare City ……………………………………………………………. (1) 1
CHICKEN Inn yesterday became Zimbabwean club champions for the first time in their brief history when they walloped Harare City in an exciting Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Luveve Stadium in Bulawayo.
With FC Platinum held to a 1-1 draw by Caps United in Zvishavane, there was no denying the Danny Phiri captained Chicken Inn who are five seasons into the top flight, their moment of glory.
Coach Joey Antipas has also won the championship with two different teams after picking his first title with Motor Action in 2010. It is the first time that the championship will be coming to Bulawayo since 2006 when Highlanders were crowned winners. Since then Harare clubs Dynamos, Monomotapa United, Gunners and Motor Action have taken turns to keep the accolade in the capital city.
As soon as referee Thabani Bhamala blew the final whistle, Chicken Inn players and officials, initially not aware that FC Platinum had failed to collect maximum points against Caps United, burst into celebration as it dawned on them that they had wrapped up the title with one match to go.
With the Gamecocks victorious, Kugona Kunenge Kudada had to beat Makepekepe to take the race to the wire on Saturday, but it was not to be.
Chicken Inn took their points tally to an unassailable 58 while FC Platinum are now on 54 and Dynamos moved to 53.
Essentially, a Chicken Inn victory had also eliminated four times in a row champions Dynamos who had earned fame for winning it right at the end from the race despite the Harare giants beating Chapungu 2-0.
A sumptuous goal by George Majika was complemented by a Tafadzwa Kutinyu easy goal and a strike by Michelle Katsvairo while Harare City got their face saver from a marvellous strike by the talented Talent Chawapihwa.
The match started off at a high tempo with Chicken Inn the first to get a goal scoring opportunity, with Katsvairo shooting weakly at goal, an effort not enough to trouble Maxwell Nyamupangedengu, with three minutes played.
As action quickly swung to the other end, the home side nearly got punished when their poorly executed offside trap was beaten by Harare City burly forward Francisco Zekumbawira who did well to dribble his way past goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze only to slam his goal attempt on the side netting.
In the sixth minute, Phiri saw his shot from the edge of the box tipped over the bar for a corner by Nyamupangedengu.
Majika opened the scoring 13 minutes into the encounter with a stunning strike taken with his right foot, the ball hitting the inside of the upright and into the nets.
Six minutes later, Chicken Inn were 2-0 up, Kutinyu going high for an Edmore Chirambadare cross, Nyamupangedengu missed the ball, presented the midfielder with the easiest of tasks of pushing the ball into the back of the nets.
Harare City found the target when a brilliant move saw Zekumbawira sell a dummy to an opposing defender before laying the ball to Chawapihwa who released a dazzling left footer that struck the inside of the woodwork on its way in.
The Gamecocks rounded off the scoring with six minutes to go, Chirambadare setting up Katsvairo for his eighth goal of the season.
An elated Antipas attributed the team’s success to oneness that prevailed throughout the season which saw the Gamecocks on top of the log from week six.
“I’m at a loss for words, I am really chaffed with our performance, and we knew it was in our hands. I’m really proud of the boys, we had a couple of defeats which could have derailed us. Our togetherness has won it for us. We would have loved to win it with some matches to go but winning the championship is not easy,’’ said Antipas.
On how they will approach their season ending away fixture against Flame Lily in Harare on Saturday, Antipas said they will be at ease and more relaxed.
Teams
Chicken Inn: Elvis Chipezeze, Tafadzwa Kutinyu(Jackson 75 minutes), Lawrence Mhlanga, Passmore Bernard, Brian Mbiriri, Clemence Matawu, Ben Nyakunzvi, George Majika(Goredema 55 minutes), Danny Phiri, Edmore Chirambadare, Michelle Katsvairo ( Lawe 90+2 minutes)
Harare City: Maxwell Nyamupangedengu, Gilroy Chimwemwe, Munyaradzi Diro Nyenye, Themba Ndlovu, David Kutyauripo( Vengesayi 59 minutes), James Jam, Tendai Samanja, William Manondo, Kudakwashe Kumwala, Francisco Zekumbawira(Ziwini 85 minutes), Talent Chawapihwa
