tawandamusarurwa
Fungai Muderere in MHONDORO
Cranborne Bullets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
ARMY side Cranborne Bullets managed to collect their first point of the season when they battled hard-to-restrict 2022 Premiership runners-up Chicken Inn at Baobab Stadium here yesterday.
Going into the match, Bullets were smarting from two identical 1-0 defeats at the hands of fellow army outfit Black Rhinos and defending league champions FC Platinum.
This saw Nesbert “Yabo’’ Saruchera’s soldiers anchor the log standings in the early stages of the season.
Bullets are also still to find the target this term.
Yesterday’s result between Bullets and the Gamecocks saw the former end the latter’s dominance over them.
In the previous season, the army side suffered back-to-back league losses to Chicken Inn.
In the 2021/2022 season, they edged Bullets 1-0 at Luveve, before thumping Saruchera’s men 4-1 in the reverse fixture at Sakubva.
Yesterday, Bullets gave a good account of themselves to get the priceless point.
They dominated the exchanges in the first half, before the 2015 league champions rose from their slumber, only to miss clear-cut chances, with their chief culprits being their last season’s top goal- scorer Brian Buza, Malvin Whata and a rather impressive George Majika.
Bullets’ captain Tadiwa Chibunyu, Kudakwashe Chidonza, Kingsley Mureremba, Moreblessing Mushangwe and ex-Chicken Inn defender Nyasha Gurende had a good show, helping their teammates match the visitors, who are now on five points.
Saruchera reckoned they are improving with each passing game.
“We lost our first two games, which were not easy. Today (yesterday), we drew against Chicken Inn.
“So, in our next game, we are targeting to collect maximum points,” he said.
“Chicken Inn dominated us last season and we are only two years in the league, so drawing with them pleases us. We are a young team and we are growing up.”
The former Black Rhinos coach made three second-half substitutes to absorb pressure and catch Gamecocks on counter-attacks.
In their next assignment, the soldiers will do battle against Dynamos on Easter Monday.
Chicken Inn coach Prince Matore underscored that they now need to work on their finishing.
“We came here for three points but we didn’t manage to get them after creating a lot of chances, especially in the second half.
“We lacked precision. We need to work hard on our finishing. We need to put away those chances,” said Matore.
Chicken Inn will now face Highlanders in a Bulawayo derby at Barbourfields.
TEAMS:
Cranborne Bullets: T Makoni, N Kupara, M Mushangwe, C Charakupa, N Gurende, E Manokore, K Chidonza, T Chibunyu (Mhandu 84mins), M Madzuka, K Mureremba (Meke 53 mins) B Muzondiwa (Matembedze 53mins)
Chicken Inn: D Bernard, A Chinda, X Ndlovu, M Bhebhe, D Jaricha, S Mhlanga, C Dzingai, G Majika, M Whata (Augusto 88th min), B Muza, M Charamba (Ncube 70mins).
Online Reporter