The Sunday News
Ishemunyoro Chingwere Harare Bureau
Harare City ……………….. (0) 1
Chicken Inn ……………… (0) 1
CHAMPIONS Chicken Inn’s wait for a first ever league win over Harare City in the capital was prolonged when the two sides settled for a share of the spoils at Rufaro yesterday. Harare City captain Fancisco Zekumbawira gave the host the lead four minutes from the breather before veteran Pride Tafirenyika levelled the scores with 73 minutes on the clock. The result means the champions will have to wait for another season to get three points from the Sunshine Boys in the capital whom they have failed to beat in five attempts.
The Rahman Gumbo coached side, who were on the back foot for large parts of the second half, had goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze to thank for the point they got after the goal minder made numerous saves to keep the visitors in the match.
Speedy Martin Vengesayi was the biggest casualty of Chipezeze’s brilliance after being denied on several occasions but the goalie’s 66th minute save from a one on one situation against Vengesayi was a major highlight.
Gumbo, who has registered three wins, three draws and two defeats since taking over from league winning Joey Antipas, said he was happy with the progress the team is making after losing three players to the South African league.
“I think the draw was a fair result, we could have wrapped it in the first half when we dominated but they came back a better organised side,” said Gumbo. “But I am not complaining about a point away from home, my team is still work in progress. We have three players who have left the club this season and today I had four regular players missing and I had to make do with the players who were available, but I am still building the team.”
The visitors could have taken the lead as early as the 18th minute but midfielder Thabani Goredema’s shot from the edge of the box could only find Maxwell Nyamupanedengu’s cross bar with the goalkeeper a beaten man.
City had a seemingly fair penalty call ignored by referee Brighton Chimene in the 63rd minute when George Majika impeded Munyaradzi Diro Nyenye from behind. The draw is coach Moses Chunga’s second in seven matches since he replaced Taurai Mangwiro.
“We had good chances to collect maximum three points especially in the second half but I think it was an interesting game because first half I think it was Chicken Inn (who dominated),” said Chunga.
“Obviously I am a bit disappointed, yes, we might complain about the penalty but we had chances even better than the penalty which we should have buried.”
