The Sunday News
Fungai Muderere in Gweru
Whawha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 3
Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 0
DAYS after their mentor Joey Antipas insisted on the need to guard against complacency, Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title favourites, Chicken Inn were yesterday handed a drubbing by Whawha in a match played under freezing and drizzling weather conditions at Gweru’s Ascot Stadium.
In the build-up to the match, Antipas, a veteran of many football coaching battles, told his charges on the need to be aware of the danger of undermining the prison wardens because of the position they were occupying on the log, emphasising on the need for his men to be psychologically prepared for the tie.
Against such a background of a wise warning from their head coach, the Moses Jackson-captained side slept on duty to hand Whawha their second win in eleven games. Whawha are now on eight points thanks to the three valuable goals they scored against a wanting Chicken Inn side who are now tied on 23 points with former champions
Dynamos at the top. Whawha traded places with Bulawayo City who are bottom of the log after losing to FC Platinum. DeMbare played a nil-all draw against Ngezi Platinum Stars and they now sit on top of the log courtesy of a superior goal difference.
Substitute Tineyi Chitora found the opener for Whawha in 20th minute with his first touch of the game. Chitora had been introduced for injured Dibbella Mapuwa in the 16th minute. Raymond Horonga made it two for Whawha five minutes after the breather, a goal that the Chicken Inn camp disputed arguing that it was cleared off the line by their defender Xolani Ndlovu. However, referee Happy Mabhena was in agreement with his second assistant Salani Ncube to allow the goal to stand.
At a time the Gamecocks kept pressing for a goal, pacey Whawha forward Jayden Barake made it three for the hosts in the 85th minute after he got the better of Jackson in a one-on-one situation and let loose a glorious shot that beat a badly exposed Donovan Bernard in goals for the visitors.
In his post-match interview Antipas said “Whawha took us to the cleaners. We conceded soft goals from defensive errors. We did not pitch up. We warned the boys about attitude and they have spoiled our party. We plotted our own downfall. It was great work from Whawha. They wanted it more than us.”
Whawha head coach Luke Jukulile, a former Warriors striker was full of praise on the progress that his team is making.
“It is a result that shows there is continuity in our game. We are now progressing well and we want to keep on maintaining the spirit. I have been telling the boys that work produces results. I am happy for the boys for this win against a formidable Chicken Inn. We will also continue playing more youngsters,” said Jukulile.
Teams
Whawha: T Chiku, M Sibanda, T Daka, R Useni, A Matope, M Chirwa, R Horonga, D Mapuwa (Chitora 20mins), T Jukulile, J Barake, N Tshuma (Brown 85mins)
Chicken Inn: D Bernard, R Hachiro, M Charamba (Hwata 55 mins), N Ketala (Majika 49mins) M Jackson, B Amidu, I Mabunu, X Ndlovu (Bernard 55mins) S Mhlanga(Khumalo 55 mins) B Ncube Pini (69th minute), B Muza
— @FungaiMuderere
