Vusumuzi Dube
Fungai Muderere, Sports Writer
Chicken Inn FC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Manica Diamonds FC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
CHICKEN Inn FC coach Prince Matore is a worried man.
His side has gone five games without posting a win.
They have registered five straight draws.
They had declared themselves as championship material but things have not gone according to plan as they are struggling to collect maximum points week in and week out.
Yesterday at Luveve Stadium was it was another stalemate for them as title aspirations continued on the slide.
“We cannot talk of winning the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title, all we have to do is focus and try and collect maximum points. If we collect three points, three points, then we can talk of something else but if you are collecting one point, we can’t talk much,” said Matore.
Despite the struggles of collecting maxim points on a regular basis, Matore said they are not under any pressure as they have been playing well.
“We can’t talk of pressure because the team is playing well, what is important is to focus and see if there’s more work to improve on,” he said.
His opposite number in the Manica Diamonds camp, Jairos Tapera was pleased with the draw as they were coming from two consecutive defeats. He, however, believes fatigue has been at the centre of their dip in form.
“People don’t know about fatigue, the effect of fatigue. You can imagine travelling 750 kilometers to and from everytime we play. Most of the time we don’t train more than two days, imagine we play on Sunday, we recover on Monday, Tuesday we rest, Wednesday we train and on Friday we are on the road, you see how it is, fatigue will then cripple into the players,” said Tapera.
He added that he was impressed with the way they managed Chicken Inn in yesterday’s match as they were able to deal with their long balls in midfield after realising their vulnerability.
Manica Diamonds had to make a double substitution as early as the 28th minute, a move which paid dividends.
The goals that came through penalty kicks in both halves of the game were all it took for the two teams to settle for a stalemate.
Manica Diamonds scored first in the 38th minute as Ralph Kawondera converted from the spot kick.
Michael Charamba leveled the score in the 53rd minute, again from the spot.
The home team could have scored in the opening stages but missed out when striker Brian Muza’s shot on target was punched back into play by the alert Manica Diamonds goalie Tedius Baye.
Baye for the better part of the match, was the busier of the two goalkeepers. Chicken Inn had as many chances but Baye and the Manica Diamonds hard defence line of Kelvin Gwao and Farai Banda worked well to thwart all attempts.
Chicken Inn had as many chances but Baye and the Manica Diamonds hard defence line of Kelvin Gwao and Farai Banda worked well to thwart all attempts.
Feeling the heat, Manica Diamonds made a double substitution in the 28th minute when they brought in Tawanda Macheke for Gerald Bero and Lawrence Masibhera for Kelvin Gwao.
That substitution changed the complexion of the game as Manica Diamonds were awarded a penalty in the 30th minute.
Ralph Kawondera took it and scored.
Moments later, Chicken Inn again fumbled a chance to level matters as Malvin Hwata’s effort in front of goal was saved by the Manica Diamonds shot stopper.
At the resumption of the second half, Kawondera skied his long shot at goal, as the home side looked for a goal. Michael Charamba, who had a good day on the field moved with intent at the centre of the park but, his speculative effort was well saved by Baye.
The Gamecocks were to respond on the scoresheet when they got a penalty in the 53rd minute. This was after Muza’s effort was blocked by Tawanda Chisi with both hands and referee Mhaka Magare did not hesitate to point to the spot.
Charamba stepped up to the challenge and made no mistake to level the scores.
Teams
Chicken Inn: B Donovan, M Hwata (Moyo 68’), M Charamba (Malajila 90’), M Bhebhe, R Hachiro, G Mutungamiri (Kutinyu 68’), N Ketala, D Jaricha, S Mhlanga, X Ndlovu, B Muza.
Manica Diamonds: T Baye, K Gwao (Masibhera 28’), F Banda, T Chisi, T Mavhunga, R Kawondera (Rupande 63’), B Amidu, L Chakoroma (Takunda 76’), B Chikwenya, G Bero( Macheke 28’) , F Binzi.(Tapera 76’)
Online Reporter