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Fungai Muderere in Zvishavane
FC Platinum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 2
THE timing of this duel could not have come at any better time for Chicken Inn as they grabbed the priceless chance to declare to the rest of the of the championship chasing teams that they are very much still in the race to the Holy Grail.
If the Gamecocks win the league title they will point out to their third win over the platinum miners since 2011 as the launch pad of their triumph which was under threat after a string of poor results by their standards. Judging by yesterday’s result there is still more despite the departure of their top marksman Clive Augusto.
It is a team that is powered by collective play and goals came courtesy of Valentine Kadonzvo and veteran Guide Goddard to take their points tally to 38 in this ding dong title race. Kadonzvo powered the visitors into the lead in the 26th minute after beating an offside trap. The winger had raced to a clever feed from Obriel Chirinda, arguably man of the match, beat Gift Bello before letting loose a hard and low shoot that beat a badly exposed Petros Mhari on the near post.
Goddard won the hearts of many after his blistering header from a Kadonzvo cross made it two for Joey Antipas’ men in the 78th minute. This was six minutes after Sipho Ndlovu’s thunderbolt from outside box, after being setup by an impressive Chirinda, hit the upright.
The hosts got their face saver against the run of play when substitute Albert Eonde lobbed the ball past Gamecocks goal minder Pride Zendera 10 minutes before time. Antipas said “Clive Augusto was our main source of goals. However, I am happy that other players are now scoring for us. If we continue with this type of spirit then we are there to challenge for the championship. The spirit was absolutely magnificent.”
His opposite number Norman Mapeza conceded they lost to better opponents.
“It’s well done to Chicken Inn. We conceded a soft goal in the first half. The second one was from a set piece and as such I get worried. We had our chances. We can’t blame anyone and we need to rebuild,” said Mapeza after a match where Chicken Inn enjoyed support that came from other members of the Zvishavane community.”
Teams
FC Platinum: P Mhari, R Muduviwa, G Bello, L Mhlanga, T Chikore (Sibanda 81 mins), K Madzongwe, R Chinyengetere (Magaya 58 mins), N Tigere, R Kutsanzira, M Dube, ( Eonde 44 mins) P Chikwende
Chicken Inn: P Zendera, M Jackson, G Goddard, X Ndlovu, S Ndlovu, T Chipunza, S Munawa, V Kadonzvo( Mucheneka 87 mins), O Chirinda , L Chakoroma, B Amidu (Gaki 67 mins)
— @FungaiMuderere
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter