adminMehluli Sibanda in Bulawayo
Tsholotsho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 0
Chicken Inn. . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
DEFENDING Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Chicken Inn overpowered Tsholotsho despite playing the better part of yesterday’s match at White City Stadium in Bulawayo with 10 men. A 74th minute header from seasoned striker Obadiah Tarumbwa ensured Chicken Inn – who had defender Lawrence Mhlanga sent off in the first half – secured their fifth win of the season while condemning their third-from-bottom opponents to a seventh defeat this term.
Chicken Inn assistant coach Thulani Sibanda commended the level of fitness displayed by his players as they put up a good fight despite being a man down.
He, however, has to contend with a future without strikers Edmore Chirambadare and Mitchelle Katsvairo, who leave Zimbabwe today to join South African Premiership side Kaizer Chiefs.
“It was a good game … we showed a little bit of improvement in terms of our physique, being reduced to 10 men 15 minutes into the game and playing around 75 minutes (with 10 men), it shows how fit we are.
“In terms of our organisation, we decided we are now nine men on the field of play, we will be 1-4-4 off the ball and maybe try to force a 3-4-2 or 3-5-1 on the ball, and I think it worked,” said Sibanda. Tsholotsho second-in-charge Xolani Mafikela said it was a day of missed opportunities.
“We didn’t take our chances. I think we were in control of the match, we failed to score and playing a 10-man team doesn’t necessarily mean that you will definitely win that one, it’s always a 50-50. Football can be played by seven players so 10 men is as good as 11 people,” said Mafikela.
Chicken Inn lost defender Mhlanga in the 18th minute when the Warriors player kicked Ayanda Ncube in an off-the-ball incident.
Referee Zibusiso Moyo reached for his back pocket to send Mhlanga for an early shower, forcing Rahman Gumbo to sacrifice striker Moses Demera for defender Moses Jackson in the 24th minute as he sought to restore stability at the back.
Fixtures (All matches start at 3pm)
CAPS United v Bulawayo City (NSS)
Highlanders v ZPC Kariba (BF)
Hwange v Mutare City (Colliery)
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