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Raymond Jaravaza at Luveve Stadium, [email protected]
ON an afternoon that football fans showed up in reasonable numbers in anticipation for some magic from Warriors midfielder Khama Billiat on a day when he was anticipated to dazzle the crowd at Luveve Stadium, the result at the end day was a dull and disappointing nil draw when Chicken Inn squared up against fancied Yadah FC in Bulawayo yesterday.
Yadah coach Thomas Ruzive was not surprised that the opposition marked Billiat out of the game and that the Warriors talisman, who came out of retirement after being convinced by new Zimbabwe senior men’s coach Michael Nees to play for the national team again, was the target to make sure that he didn’t score.
“This season we have played the opposition twice (Premier Soccer League back to back matches) and their coach is bound to have made sure that Khama was marked so hard that he couldn’t play his normal game,” said Ruzive.
Since qualifying to play Premier Soccer League football some years ago, the team has constantly been fighting relegation year in, year out, something that Ruzive is glad won’t happen this season.
“Our target is to play better than the previous years. We will go back to the drawing board to improve on our conversion rate to try and score more goals because today was not one of our best days,” he said.
Despite both teams creating numerous chances, none managed to find the back of the net and had to settle for a goalless draw.
The Gamecocks made some glaring changes to their regular starting 11 with spacey forwards, Michael Charamba and Brian Muza starting from the bench. The duo came in as second half substitutes.
Chicken Inn were the first to look threatening as early as the third minute after an Arthur Chinda cross was cleared onto Irvine Mukombwe’s path but, however, the Gamecock’ midfielder’s effort was blocked.
Soon after, Evans Rusike of Yahah FC found himself unmarked in the box but skied his effort over the bar.
In the 11th minute, Malvin Hwata came close to putting Chicken Inn in front but his shot from inside the box went wide off goal mark. At the half hour mark, poster boy Billiat got a free kick in a promising area but his effort went over the bar.
As both teams continued their search for the opener, Chicken Inn midfielder Joseph Tulani got yet another chance for the hosts but his header went wide as well.
Chicken Inn would go on to make one half time change with Brighton Makopa coming in for Albert Nyamutsaka.
At full time, Chicken Inn felt hard done as they were denied what appeared genuine penalty with the referee deciding that it was a free ick on the edge of the box instead.
Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas feels his side missed a few glorious chances.
“In football that what happens (a draw) when you miss a lot of chances and I feel the guys whom came on in the second half upped the game. The last 20 minutes were good for us as we put the opposition under a lot of pressure but unfortunately we came short of getting a goal,” said Antipas.
Chicken Inn are yet to be awarded a penalty this season.
Teams:
Chicken Inn:
Donovan Bernard (gk), Malvin Hwata (Brian Muza, 75mins), Itai Mabunu, Miguel Feldman (Michael Charamba, 57mins), Albert Nyamutsaka (Brighton Makopa, 46mins), Irvine Mukombwe (Elshamar Farasi, 57mins), Genious Mutungamiri (George Majika, 75mins), Joseph Tulani, Arthur Chinda, Lincoln Mangaira, Xolani Ndlovu.
Yadah FC:
Marshal Takarinda (gk), Lennox Mucheto (Emmanuel Chitauro, 84mins), Evans Rusike (Ryan Ncube, 76mins) Blessed Ndereki, Khama Billiat, Anotidaishe Gwatidzo, Maverllous Faranando, Jerry Chipangura, Clive Mandivei, Tafadzwa Rusike, Francis Mustafa (Mandlenkosi Mlilo, 65mins).
Online Reporter