Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
CHICKEN INN walked into Ngoni carrying the swagger of the team that had just floored Dynamos.
They left Norton reminded how quickly this league humbles you.
MWOS, sharper, hungrier and far more relentless, dragged the Bulawayo side back down with a deserved 1-0 victory yesterday, as Principe Magondo’s superb second-half free-kick settled a bruising contest and underlined just how costly one lapse can be in a league where momentum disappears fast.
For Tonderai Ndiraya’s men, this hurt beyond the result.
Chicken Inn were second best for long stretches, lucky not to concede earlier as MWOS created chance after chance before finally finding their breakthrough 17 minutes from time when Vassilli Kawe clipped Tinotenda Mutyambizi on the edge of the box. Up stepped Magondo, who had transformed the game after coming on, bending his effort beyond Taimon Mvula to give the Punters maximum points.
It was a proper reality check for the Bulawayo visitors, who had arrived buoyant after ending DeMbare’s unbeaten start, only to find Lloyd Mutasa’s side asking tougher questions from the first whistle.
While Chicken Inn stumbled, Hardrock’s statement only got louder.
At Ascot, the promoted side tore apart TelOne 3-0 to storm to the top of the table, at least temporarily, and their rise is no longer looking like an early-season flirtation.
Washington Navaya opened from the spot before Sambulo Simelani’s brace completed another ruthless afternoon for Kelvin Kaindu’s men, who have now blasted nine goals in two matches and are beginning to force themselves into serious title conversation.
Kaindu, though, is refusing the noise.
“It is too early to be talking about the title,” he said. “We want to take each game as it comes.”
Maybe. But the table is starting to ask bigger questions.
Simba Bhora are asking a few of their own.
Fresh from shocking Scottland, Mandla Mpofu’s side made it three straight league wins for the first time in 18 games after edging ZPC Kariba 2-1 at Wadzanai.
Webster Tafa’s penalty and Junior Petrus’ spectacular overhead kick looked enough before late drama nearly spoiled it, but Simba held on and suddenly sit fourth, quietly building the kind of run that turns outsiders into genuine threats.
In Mutare, Manica Diamonds marked their emotional return to Sakubva with a chaotic but vital 3-1 win over Agama.
Russel Kahiki opened the scoring before Agama briefly threatened to spoil the homecoming, only for Farai Banda’s penalty and Malone Maziriri’s stoppage-time finish to hand Patrick Mandizha’s side precious breathing space near the bottom.
So while Chicken Inn were left licking wounds, the wider picture grew sharper.
Hardrock have the summit. Simba Bhora are gathering pace. Manica have life. And in Norton, MWOS delivered the latest reminder that in this PSL season, yesterday’s giant-killing means nothing if you cannot survive the next test.
