Chicken Inn leave it late to down Strikers

Paul Mundandi in Zvishavane
Border Strikers 0-1 Chicken Inn

A 91st minute strike by Devine Lunga kept champions Chicken Inn’s title defence quest on course against Castle Lager Premiership debutants Border Strikers at Maglas Stadium in Zvishavane yesterday.

Edmore Chirambadare, who tormented the Border Strikers’ defence the whole afternoon, beat defender Peter Muzondo on the left side and sent a hard and low cross into the box.

The defence failed to deal with it and Lunga struck a stinging shot that Border Strikers’ goalkeeper Gilbert Chigwandaza could only retrieve from the back of the nets.

The match started 30 minutes late after Border Strikers failed to produce licences for their players after their team manager arrived late.

They also had to rely on Chicken Inn medics as coach Saul Chaminuka and his technical staff were barred from sitting in the dugout after failing to provide proof that they had paid the $200 fee each for the technical licence.

Chaminuka and his team were only allowed to sit on the bench a few minutes before half time.

Moses Jackson had fluffed a chance to put Chicken Inn ahead in the 89th minute when his effort was cleared off the line by Muzondo.

Obidiah Tarumbwa also missed a seater in the 75th minute after Chiramabadare had dribbled past Frank Mukarati and Muzondo and sent in a cross that eluded the Border Strikers’ goal minder and fell to Tarumbwa, who could only manage an air shot.

Chaminuka said he was not happy with the club administration for not informing them in time that they would use Maglas Stadium.

“Why didn’t they inform us in time so that we could have come and trained here? I spent the first half in the terraces, so (Chicken Inn coach) Joey Antipas had an advantage over me. If we hadn’t paid, why then did they allow us to eventually sit in the technical area? My administration also played a part in the problem,” said Chaminuka.

“We played well, it’s just that my players failed to concentrate in the last minute, but such is football. I’m hurt that we lost points because some teams are already gathering points,” he said.

Antipas was a happy man. “We had a hard time. They were parking the bus and frustrating our play. The pitch was a bit bumpy, but the good thing is we managed to grind a result,” said Antipas.

Border Strikers were forced to play in Zvishavane after their stadium failed an inspection test last Friday.

Stadiums are expected to have doping rooms, proper VIP sitting and a minimum sitting capacity of 5,000 people, among other essential features.

Border Strikers lost their maiden top flight match 0-2 away to ZPC Kariba last week.

Teams

Border Strikers: G Chigwandaza, P Muzondo, M Variso, E Mwinga, F Makarati, B Chirumanzu, H Makosa (P Sibanda 84th), K Kwashi, A Banana, S Chaminuka (D Tito 76th)

Chicken Inn: E Chipezeze, D Lunga, P Bernard, L Mhlanga, M Jackson, D Phiri, T Kutinyu, G Majika (N Muchadeyi 69th), C Matawu, E Chirambadare, O Tarumbwa