The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Reporter
How Mine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2) 2
HARTSFIELD Rugby Ground is a venue which How Mine coach Kelvin Kaindu would love to hate as it unceremoniously ended his time at Highlanders in 2014 and yesterday his charges succumbed to high flying Chicken Inn in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match.
The Gamecocks are still perched at the top of the log after putting a near flawless and dominant first half performance for their fourth win on the trot.
Rahman Gumbo’s side has now gone for nine matches without tasting defeat with their last loss coming against Chapungu who beat them 2-0 in Gweru on 1 July.
Veteran striker Obadiah Tarumbwa gave the 2015 league champions the lead with a close range shot, from a pass by impressive midfielder Innocent Mucheneka, which ricocheted against Chikurupati’s gangling defender and skipper Makundika Sakala to sail over a bemused Munyaradzi Diya in goals for the gold miners at the 8th minute.
Chicken Inn were to add a second goal in the 15th minute when their striker Darryl Nyandoro’s scorcher from outside the 18 yard box nestled at the back of the net past Diya. The Gamecocks could have been three up in the 36th minute had Mucheneka not shot timidly into the hands of Diya after the gold miners’ defence failed to clear their lines. So dominant were the Gamecocks that Nyandoro almost got a brace but blazed his effort over the bar after being set up by the impressive midfield dynamo Clemence Matawu.
How Mine started the second half a rejuvenated side as they made numerous raids into their opponents’ half but it was Chicken Inn that threatened to triple their lead in the 58th minute after Tarumbwa’s shot was acrobatically tipped for a corner by Diya.
Diya who has had a wonderful season since taking over from the injured Bernard Donovan earlier into the season was to come to the rescue of his team again when he dived full stretch to his left to punch Mucheneka’s strike from the edge of the box back into play in the 63rd minute.
How Mine who had began to enjoy more ball possession in the second half were rewarded in 76th minute when former Highlanders midfielder Peter “Rio” Moyo swept past two defenders on the right and sent an inch perfect cross that was met by a perfectly position Toto Banda to beat a flat footed Elvis Chipezeze.
Kaindu said lack of consistence especially in derby matches has affected their play this season but was quick to point out that yesterday’s loss was as a result of complacency by his defenders.
“I think we lost because we are not consistent especially in our derbies and we had lack of concentration at the back and Chicken Inn managed to get their two goals and it became a bit difficult for us to come back but in terms playing we were slight superior than them,” he said.
Kaindu however, expressed his displeasure at the state of the match venue claiming that his players were forced to change inside their team bus due to lack of proper dressing rooms and ablution facilities.
Teams
How Mine: M Diya, P Tonha, M Ncube, M Sakala, F Makarati, T Masuku (Mukumba 69 mins), T Banda, P Manhanga (Makanda 57 mins), K Musharu, P Moyo (Mudzidzwa 89 mins), T Chanengeta
Chicken Inn: E Chipezeze, P Bernard, D Lunga, M Jackson, B Nyahunzwi, C Matawu, O Tarumbwa (Kadyaridzire 69 mins), C Samakweri, D Nyandoro (Juru 46 mins) I Mucheneka (Lawe 83 mins) , T Goredema — @DNsingo
