Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere and Langton Nyakwenda-Zimpapers Sports Hub
TONDERAI NDIRAYA was left bemoaning two points dropped than smiling over one they gained after their Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash against CAPS United ended in a goalless draw at Barbourfields.
The Gamecocks have been stuttering this season, and against the background of the scoring opportunities they crafted, Ndiraya would be forgiven to feel that his charges let CAPS United off the hook.
The draw may have done little to dent CAPS United’s title ambitions, but it represented a missed opportunity for Chicken Inn to register a statement victory against one of the league’s frontrunners.
“It’s two points dropped at home.
“It was a very difficult game from our end, it has been really difficult for us. We have had a bad run of late,’’ Ndiraya said.
“We lost three games on the trot before we drew against AGAMA. Now this is another draw today (yesterday).
“Of course, they say a point is better than nothing considering where we are coming from and the fact that we were playing against log leaders.
“From that end, we think it’s a very valuable point,” added Ndiraya.
CAPS United gaffer Takesure Chiragwi was content with the draw.
“First of all, we want to thank God for safe travelling and also that we had a good day.
“For us, I think we did so well. The guys put up a very good spirit after playing on Sunday, with travelling, it was very tough.
“We performed well, as we had some moments that saw us change the complexion of the game.
“Chicken Inn were also good in their attacking structure. We could have probably gotten two or three goals, but we could not convert,” Chiragwi said.
The visitors, who had their midfield enforcer Richard Hachiro, voted Man of the Match, started the brighter side and controlled possession in the opening exchanges, with Tanaka Shandirwa, Kundai Benyu, and the former pulling the strings in the middle.
Despite enjoying territorial advantage, CAPS struggled to find a way past a disciplined Chicken Inn defence marshalled by Mpumelelo Bhebhe and Itai Mabhunu.
Chicken Inn gradually grew in confidence and began to ask questions of the visitors’ backline as the match progresses.
Rahim Katinji’s penalty appeals were waved away early on before the hosts increasingly threatened through Lynoth Chikuwa and Vassili Kawe.
MWOS remember how to win
Following a recent lull in form, MWOS concluded the first half of the season with a comfortable 3-1 win over Manica Diamonds, a result that saw the Punters ease into seventh place.
MWOS had to come back from behind after Fortune Binzi had thrust the visitors ahead with an overhead kick in the 22nd minute.
That was soon after Namibian striker Dawid Ndeunyema had missed an early penalty.
Ndeunyema, who ended up being Man of the Match, redeemed himself and turned provider, setting up Jeremiah Makangira for the hosts equaliser.
MWOS then came back fired up in the second half and surged ahead for the first time courtesy of Arthur Banda.
He was played through by Valentine Katsande in the 49th minute.
Namibian striker Ndeunyema then sealed the Punters’ win when scoring a beauty.
He lobbed the ball past two defenders before firing past the Manica Diamonds goalkeeper.
It might be an unfamiliar position for a team that finished second last year but coach Lloyd Mutasa is expecting some improvement in the second half of the season.
