Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere at Luveve Stadium
Zimpapers Sports Hub
VETERAN Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas admits the clock is ticking for his misfiring side after they stumbled to a sixth draw of the season, a frustrating goalless stalemate against TelOne at Luveve Stadium.
The Gamecocks’ indifferent start to the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign continued, with a return of just one win, six draws, and two defeats from their opening nine matches leaving them on nine points.
“It’s unfortunate that you work hard at training during the week, but the results don’t come,” lamented Antipas.
“We worked hard in this match, created chances, but the goals just didn’t come. We could have scored about five or six. It’s unfortunate that Lady Luck has not been smiling at us. Our finishing has been a problem, but you can’t reverse the hands of time,” he said. It was a game where both sides carved out opportunities, only to be let down by poor finishing.
In contrast, TelOne coach Herbert Maruwa was content with the away point.
“It’s a big point for us considering we were playing away from home. It’s not easy to get that against a side like Chicken Inn. I’m happy for the boys,” said Maruwa.
Led by the league’s leading goal scorer, Washington Navaya, standing in as captain in the absence of Frank Makarati, TelOne dominated the first half.
Navaya, who sits on seven goals, linked up well with Milton Chiedza and Tawanda Macheke in a lively frontline.
In the 21st minute, Navaya had a close-range shot punched away for a corner by Chicken Inn goalkeeper Donovan Bernard, shortly after Joseph Tulani sent a half-volley sailing over the bar.
On the half-hour mark, Navaya watched in disbelief as Bernard again denied him, palming away a powerful header from a clever Macheke cross.
Three minutes before half-time, Chicken Inn right-back Arthur Chinda embarked on a dazzling run before whipping in a fine cross, only for Tulani to fluff his effort in front of goal.
Ten minutes into the second half, Michael Charamba curled a free-kick effort on target, but TelOne’s Tapiwa Chilenga produced a brilliant save.
The hosts had won the free-kick after Tulani was fouled just outside the box.
Seven minutes later, young Tinashe Mushaireni forced another save from Chilenga with a low, driven shot.
Sensing pressure building, TelOne’s Maruwa made a double substitution in the 65th minute, introducing the former Bulawayo Chiefs duo Lucky Ndlela and Nkosiyabo Masilela for Gerald Bero and Milton Chiedza, respectively.
