The Sunday News
Cosmas Zulu
Bulawayo Chiefs v/s Chicken Inn
(Luveve, 23/05/2018 )
When is our top league going to avail gadgets like spray cans, ear phones for referees to communicate? In most countries in the world of soccer such gadgets are already in use. I am sure our league can afford such gadgets.
Back to the pitch, the first ten minutes saw Chicken Inn forcing three corners and getting the first goal in the process after Guide Goddard directed a powerful header into the net unmarked in the 18 line box.
In the eleventh minute, Obriel Chirinda who made some diagonal runs from inside to outside, short bursting runs away from defenders and chasing balls going out of the pitch with speed of a bicycle and evergreen Clement Matawu exchanged some neat crisp passes before Obriel rounded up the Chiefs goalie and taped in the ball for the second goal in the 26th minute.
For the entire 45 minutes, it was Chicken Inn enjoying more of possession with Chiefs players doing the marking and chasing shadows. Come the second half, Chirinda again in the 46th minute went on a solo run and shot, only to be denied by the upright.
In part of the second half Chiefs put up some bit of aggression and urgency in their play which nearly paid off with a goal bound shot by Farai Mutare but it was cleared by a Chicken Inn defender on the line.
Then came Moses Majika embarrassedly missing a consolation goal four metres from goal.
There is no substitute for experience. Gamecocks deservedly got the three points. With their number one humorous supporter Mcloud entertaining in the terraces, I overheard him greeting a Chiefs supporter “Hallo friend, it’s been long without me giving you a body viewing.”
Log Palmers vs FMSA
( 26/05/2018)
Watching Second Division teams at Milton High school ground — referees started the game late because they got at the venue 15 minutes before kick off. They started inspecting the teams at 3:00pm, then they delayed for 15 minutes demanding to be paid match fees before they can start the game. Eventually the game kicked off with referees with no warm up at all and inspection of the ground. There were “corner flags” on two sides which were just sticks with no flags, and nets with big holes.
There were also some non-technical staff (ladies) sitting on the benches, and referees only realised that after 25 minutes.
They then moved the ladies to sit on a bench four metres away from the main technical bench and the ladies started to dance to music from their cell phones.
They started to kick the ball between them and substitute players on the touchline and there was also a supporter, by the name Luvovo, who was holding a mug of opaque beer standing behind the goals, barking instructions to the team he supports.
I would like to know this from referees’ committee, why is that we don’t have match commissioners at these games to monitor all the above things? I have mentioned before, we need to develop football and educate the most important men and women on the centre of the beautiful game.
Coming to the game, ladies and gentlemen, if you get some time on a Saturday afternoon go and watch these games, you will be surprised that you can witness some good football and the entrance is free.
I wonder why some big clubs are using old players in their teams when there are abundant young talented players in these lower leagues. The teams drew one all. Lastly I am appealing to the owners of the teams to provide sheen pads and first aid kits, this is a requirement and Zifa must enforce this please.
Chicken Inn versus FC Platinum (Luveve, 21/05/2018 )
Neatly dressed in black silky uniforms referees and match commissioner in black matching suits were leading the two teams on the pitch. Ladies and gentleman who did not attend this match?
You missed some neat, crisp, technical executed passing and some tactical leadership thinking from both set of players. Also the two coaches showed their shrewdness of tactics. I wish the game was screened on television for everyone to have seen what I am saying.
In the fifth minute, there was a build-up from the right coming from a throw in for FC Platinum, with a player receiving the ball unmarked who with two touch football passed across to a midfielder who quickly switched the ball to roving left back Elvis Moyo who exchanged a pass with Rahman Kutsanzira before sending a searching cross for Rodwell Chinyengetere to nod home the first goal.
Come second half, Chicken Inn players were slow in exerting pressure on the man on ball. FC Platinum quickly knocked the ball outside the box with Chinyengetere coming up with a snap shot, beating Elvis Chipezeze whom I think had a bad afternoon according to his standards.
Chicken Inn had their moments too with Majika coming up with a 30-metre blistering shot parried for a corner by Petros Mhari whom I still don’t understand why he cannot be the national team number one. In the 2016 season the Goalkeeper of the Year conceded 14 goals, had 18 clean sheets and in 2017 in 19 games he conceded just 13 goals, had 14 clean sheets and in the current season, he has played four games with four clean sheets.
As the first goalkeeper coach in this country in the eighties, I will want any coach to convince me why he cannot be number one goalkeeper in this country. If he cannot be then the goalkeeper coach at FC Platinum can be drafted in the national team technical staff and impart the knowledge to the present goalkeepers.
In football with no luck behind you it’s difficult to get things right and that perhaps explains why Obadia Tarumbwa missed with two metres away from the goal. These are situations Oba never misses on a good day in office.
World Cup 1970 in Mexico was won by Brazil which beat Italy 4-1.
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