The Sunday News
Fungai Muderere, Senior Sports Reporter
CHICKEN INN got it all wrong in the field of play yesterday but coach Joey Antipas was proved spot on for his call for divine intervention as they surrendered pole position in a forgettable Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match against FC Platinum at Luveve Stadium.
The Gamecocks were simply not at their best from the start, thanks to a languid and stuttering defence outline, a non-existent midfield and a blunt strike force. Surely, not even divine intervention could have come to their rescue on day when Walter Musona struck twice before Nomore Chinyerere weighed in with the third goal in the first half to kill the match as a contest.
“…. We now seek guidance from our good Lord,” Antipas was quoted as saying in the build-up to the top of the table clash.
Norman Mapeza
FC Platinum’s two-goal hero found his opener in the second minute after getting to an end to a Jaun Mutudz-deflated effort. Twenty-five minutes after that the predatory Musona, watched in disbelief when his header went wide with only Pride Zendera in goals for Chicken Inn, to beat.
Zendera, was thrusted into the Gamecocks starting line-up following the suspension of their first choice goalminder Donovan Bernard who had accumulated three yellow cards. In the 30th minute, the speedy and skilful Musona made it two for the visitors after he was set up by arguably man of the match Mutudza.
Walter Musona
The latter had turned provider of a fine ball that caught the Gamecocks rear guard in sixes and sevens. Maximum points is all that FC Platinum collected to take their points tally to 40, two ahead of now second-placed Chicken Inn.
“It was a total disaster, We played against a good side but I must say we dug our own grave in the first half when we conceded those three goals. We made a lot of mistakes and we got punished. It was nightmarish. However, we will need to work on our mistakes and rectify everything. We could have done better in the second half,” said a dejected Antipas.
Joey Antipas
Jovial Norman Mapeza reckoned “Massive result for us. We worked so hard for this. We were in so much control against a very good side. There is quality in that team (Chicken Inn) and on another day they could have beaten us. It has all come through hard work but we have been avoiding talking too much. We are not thinking much about the championship.”
Teams
Chicken Inn: P Zendera, G Goddard (Mabunu 46th mins) C Dzingai, N Ketala, M Jackson, B Amidu (Hachiro 46 mins), M Charamba (Majika 46 mins), X Ndlovu, S Mhlanga, M Hwata (85th min), B Muza.
FC
Platinum:
W Magalane, G Mbweti, G Bello, L Mhlanga, N Chinyerere, B Banda, R Pavari, J Mutudza (Bhebhe 90 mins), P Mutimbanyoka (Mucheneka 90 mins) , W Musona (Teguru 82 mins), T Ngwenya.
