Bulawayo Chiefs fall at Ngezi

Ricky Zililo, at Baobab Stadium

Ngezi Platinum Stars 1 – 0 Bulawayo Chiefs 

AN early goal inside the opening 10 minutes of the game by debutant Tapiwa Mandinyenya was all that Ngezi Platinum Stars needed to punish Bulawayo Chiefs for a slow start, as they recorded their second consecutive victory in a PSL match at Baobab Stadium yesterday.

Ngezi, who claimed the scalp of Chicken Inn last weekend, denting Gamecocks’ championship hopes with a 2-1 away victory, soaked in all the pressure that Chiefs piled on them as they held on to the lead. 

The home team’s coach Takesure Chiragwi was full of praise for his charges who despite a scrappy outing, still managed a victory that took their points tally to 40 in 27 matches, four points ahead of Chiefs.

“I’m happy with the result but not really impressed by the performance. I think it’s fatigue because we travelled last week to Bulawayo but sometimes it’s good, you play badly and still get a result. I think this is a sign of a really good team. It shows the character. 

“We scored in the first 10 minutes of the game and managed to hold on to that lead until the end, which is good. The win comes after another victory last weekend. This is exactly what we want especially in these remaining matches,” Chiragwi said.

The 10th minute goal got Chiefs off their slumber, as they took control of the game enjoying superior ball dominance, but all their efforts came to naught as Ngezi were resolute at the back with Polite Moyo and Marvelous Mukumba rock-solid.

With Chiefs rarely troubling Ngezi’s goalie Nelson Chadya, the visitors’ defender Kelvin Madzongwe did well to deny Tinotenda Murasiranwa from doubling the lead after beating an offside trap following a defence splitting pass from Mukumba in the 28th minute. 

Six minutes later, Mandinyenya sent his effort just over the bar under pressure from Madzongwe as he attempted to beat Chiefs goalkeeper David Bizabani who was off his  line. 

A 38th minute Elvis Moyo’s free kick from outside the box brought the best of saves from Chadya who averted danger by pushing the ball for corner.

At the start of the second half, Chiefs pulled out an out of sort Hughe Chikosa for Dela Arkoli to try and enhance their chances of an equaliser, but Ngezi responded by pulling out attacker Valentine Kadonzvo for defender Qadr Amini to defend their  goal.

Even the introduction of Billy Veremu at the hour-mark for Obriel Chirinda who had one of his worst games since joining Chiefs couldn’t spur them.

Chiefs continued to push numbers at Ngezi, but the home team just couldn’t crack.

Chiefs coach Nilton Terroso felt they were unfortunate to leave Baobab Stadium empty handed.

“We didn’t start the game well especially in the opening 10 minutes. We were losing the ball a few times and they took advantage of that one from the transition and scored straight away.

“After that we went on to attack and they were defending but we didn’t score our chances. For that reason we didn’t go away with a point. It’s difficult for for us and disappointing because we know we did enough to easily get at least a point but that’s part of the game,” said Terroso. 

Chiefs face Highlanders in the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final in their next game, with Terroso hopeful that his charges will recover from the Ngezi defeat. –  @ZililoRulaway