Sundaymail Editor
Fungai Muderere in BULAWAYO
Chicken Inn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (1) 1
Ngezi Platinum Stars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 2
ARE the wheels coming off for 2015 champions Chicken Inn in their Castle Lager Premiership title march?
The Bulawayo side succumbed to their second successive defeat when determined Ngezi Platinum Stars put them to the sword in a lively match at Luveve Stadium yesterday. Joey Antipas and his men have now slipped 10 points behind log leaders FC Platinum, who bounced back to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Manica Diamonds at Mandava. The Gamecocks were last weekend handed another 2-1 defeat by Black Rhinos away at Vengere.
A return to their favourite hunting ground at Luveve failed to inspire them.
Instead, they let slip a 32nd-minute lead they had taken via a Malvin Whata flashing header that beat a diving Nelson Chadya.
The towering and lanky Whata, who took his goal tally to six goals, found the opener for the hosts after a brilliant exchange between improvised right winger George Majika and left-back Xolani Ndlovu.
The roving Ndlovu delivered a beautiful cross that was nodded home by Whata with Ngezi defenders at sea.
Ngezi, who are under caretaker coach Takesure Chiragwi, got back into the game after the breather when Tinotenda Murasiranwa drew them level.
Chicken Inn introduced veteran forward Clive Augusto, Malvin Gaki and speedy Brian Muza for Whata, Majika and Brett Amidu but it was the visitors’ gameplan that worked out.
Against the run of play, the Mhondoro miners found the winner after 80 minutes from former Zimbabwe youth international Delic Murimba, who was introduced in the second half.
Antipas was not amused with the way his defenders lost concentration.
“We were defensively poor. And our opponents came from behind to claim the win. “We had started so well but what I must say is we will need to work hard on our defence.
“The defence has been letting us down,” said a dejected Antipas.
Chiragwi, however, was a happy man.
“In the first half we slept on duty, but I am happy with the win.
“It’s one of those games in which we have struggled but I can say I have learnt a lot from coach Benjani Mwaruwari,” he said.
Chiragwi recently took over from ex-Manchester City forward Mwaruwari, who was sacked after 16 games. Chicken Inn remain in third place after fourth-placed Manica Diamonds fell to FC Platinum.
Online Reporter