The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
Chicken Inn ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. (2) 2
Triangle ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… (1) 1
TITLE chasers, Chicken Inn revived their fading hopes of clinching the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League championship when they beat Triangle 2-1 at Luveve Stadium yesterday, moving into second place.
The win saw the former league champions leapfrog holders, FC Platinum due to a superior goal difference and move into second place two points behind leaders, Caps United who have been on a poor run, failing to earn maximum points in their last three games.
Chicken Inn coach, Joey Antipas received the result with mixed feelings as he was happy, they are back in the championship matrix but are in a conundrum about his side playing the next two fixtures in his absence.
Antipas, who is the interim national senior men’s team head coach, will be heading for two assignments with the Warriors while Chicken Inn side has been fixtured to play with Mushowani and Ngezi Platinum on Wednesday and Saturday respectively. The Warriors take on Botswana on Friday and Zambia next Tuesday.
“The result gives us hope as it firmly places us back into the championship matrix and with five games to go there is still a lot to play for. All we have to do is ensure we work hard, come up with the best results and take as much from the remaining 15 points. In any normal country games are cancelled when it’s a Fifa week but unfortunately it is not the same here and this leaves us in a conundrum. We just hope we will be able to try and manage the situation but we don’t know how,” he said.
On the pitch, the visitors started on a high note dominating proceedings as they bossed midfield controlling possession as they gave Chicken Inn anxious moments but it was the Gamecocks who took the lead in the 25th minute.
In a swift counter attack Obriel Chirinda outpaced Triangle defenders and passed the ball to Innocent Mucheneka who slotted it in past Tapiwa Chilenga who was guarding the posts for the visitors.
Four minutes later Xolani Ndlovu made it two as he shot and deflected off a Triangle defender and rose to beat Chilenga. Triangle did not give up their search for a goal and the 38th minute saw Ralph Kawondera head the ball past Pride Zendera off a cross from Gerald Bero. The second-half saw Triangle maintain dominance but they failed to score.
Kowondera made another attempt with a header deep into injury time but Zendera punched it and it hit the crossbar and went out but Triangle players felt the ball had gone in.
Triangle coach, Taurai Mangwiro seemed to be livid at the match officiating and felt “it was useless playing predetermined matches”, as he stormed the field and approached the referees after the final whistle.
“I’m short of words to express how I feel right now because I think as football people, we just have to be honest to ourselves. This is not good for our football. It is useless if we are going to play predetermined games like this. I can’t talk about tactics or anything because of the way things went,” he said without elaborating what had irked him.
The loss piled on the pressure on Mangwiro as the Sugar Boys were last week booted out of both the Caf Confederations Cup and Chibuku Super Cup while they remain rooted to 11th spot on the log.
Teams
Chicken Inn: P Zendera, P Dube, G Goddard, X Ndlovu, J Nyabinde, M Jackson, T Chipunza, M Gaki (T Kadonzvo, 73rd), G Majika, O Chirinda (N Mutatiwa, 46th, S Ndlovu 90th), I Mucheneka.
Triangle: T Chielnga, P Tonha, A Chiveya, D Dzvinyai, K Chigwida, T Mavhunga, R Kawondera, G Bero (C Dhuwa, 61st), B Chikwenya, P Manhanga (A Tavarwisa, 37th), N Chintuli (D Murimba, 79th).
