Online Reporter
Innocent Kurira at Luveve Stadium
Chicken Inn 0-1 MWOS
BULAWAYO giants Chicken Inn were left licking their wounds after suffering a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Premier Soccer League newcomers MWOS in a lively Castle Lager Premiership clash at Luveve Stadium on Sunday.
The result sees MWOS, in their maiden top-flight campaign, extending their unbeaten run to 10 matches and retaining pole position on the league table with 22 points, three clear of Simba Bhora. For Chicken Inn, it was yet another forgettable outing, with the club managing just a single win from their opening 10 games.
Pressure is now mounting on coach Joey Antipas and his technical team.
The decisive moment came in the 37th minute, when Nigel Matinha curled home a breath-taking first-time strike from outside the box, leaving Donovan Bernard rooted to the spot.
The goal was the culmination of some silky interplay between Billy Veremu and Malvern Mudzuka, whose deft assist carved open the Gamecocks’ defence.
From the get-go, MWOS looked like a side brimming with confidence and structure, dictating the early exchanges with crisp passes and a measured tempo.
Chicken Inn, on the other hand, were sluggish out of the blocks and found themselves on the back foot for much of the first-half.
The Gamecocks did conjure up chances of their own. In the 30th minute, Tinashe Mushaireni’s rocket from distance whistled just past the upright, while minutes later he was fouled on the edge of the box after a neat combination with Michael Charamba. However, his resulting free kick was blocked by the wall, summing up Chicken Inn’s lack of clinical edge in front of goal.
MWOS nearly doubled their lead before the break, but Mudzuka’s low shot was easily collected by Bernard.
In a bid to shake things up, Chicken Inn made a double substitution at the restart, introducing George Majika and Brighton Makopa. The tactical shift brought more urgency, and the Bulawayo side began to dominate possession. Still, they lacked the killer instinct.
Joseph Tulani came close with a powerful header on the hour mark, but MWOS keeper Martin Mapisa, arguably the coolest head on the pitch, was up to the task.
Moments later, Mudzuka threatened again, only to be denied by a crucial block from Mpumelelo Bhebhe.
With five minutes to go, Chicken Inn skipper Xolani Ndlovu struck a thunderbolt from range, but once again Mapisa stood tall, calmly gathering the effort to all but seal the three points for the visitors.
After the final whistle, MWOS coach Lloyd Mutasa was pleased with the outcome but admitted his team sat too deep after the break.
“We were playing against a good side and I’m happy that from the few chances we had, we managed to convert one. Our goal remains survival. That’s the mission,” Mutasa said.
Meanwhile, a visibly irked Fungai “Tostao” Kwashi stood in for Antipas at the post-match presser, firing veiled shots at the officiating.
“We have to keep working hard and try to get the goals coming. I won’t mention names, but some of the decisions made out there do nothing for Zimbabwean football. It’s turning into a skit.
“Where are we going as a football nation?” asked Kwashi.
With just one win, three defeats and six draws, Chicken Inn are languishing near the bottom of the log, unfamiliar and unsettling territory for the former champions.
The pressure is now squarely on Antipas to find a winning formula before the Gamecocks’ campaign slips further into disarray.
TEAMS
Chicken Inn: Donovan Bernard (gk), Kudzai Dzingwe, Kumbirai Mutenha (Brendon Rendo, 64’), Joseph Tulani, Xolani Ndlovu, Dominic Jaricha, Nelson Ketala, Michael Charamba, Mpumelelo Bhebhe, Tinashe Mushaireni (Brighton Makopa, 46’), Edward Musena (George Majika, 46’).
MWOS: Martin Mapisa (gk), Tafadzwa Nyabunze, Valentine Katsande, Innocent Zambezi, Mathew Murambiwa (Godfrey Manase, 46’), Tafadzwa George, Clive Kangwari, Malvern Mudzuka, Billy Veremu (Arthur Banda, 61’), Claude Mapoka (Salif Cheya, 61’), Nigel Matinha (Gift Saunyama, 61’)
