Online Reporter
Chicken Inn 0-0 TelOne
Fungai Muderere at Luveve Stadium
AFTER watching his Chicken Inn charges post their sixth draw of the season against TelOne, veteran gaffer Joey Antipas conceded that it is only a matter of time before Lady Luck starts smiling at them.
The Gamecocks have had an indifferent start to the 2025 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL), managing to post a single win, six draws, and two defeats, which puts them at nine points.
“It’s unfortunate that you work hard at training during the week but results don’t come. We worked hard in this match, created chances but the goals did not come. We could have scored about five to six goals. 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,” said Antipas.
It was a match in which both sides managed to create chances, only to be let down by the final touch. However, Antipas’ opposite number, Herbert Maruwa, was happy with the point they managed to collect away from home.
“It’s a big point for us considering that we were playing away from home. It’s not easy to do that against a side like Chicken Inn. I’m happy for the boys,” said Maruwa.
Captained by the country’s leading top goal scorer, Washington Navaya, in the absence of Frank Makarati, TelOne dominated the hosts in the first stanza. Navaya, who is on seven goals, combined well with his other offensive teammates, Milton Chiedza and Tawanda Macheke.
In the 21st minute, Navaya had his close shot punched for a corner kick by Donovan Bernard. This was after the Gamecocks’ Joseph Tulani’s half volley went over the bar. On the half-hour mark, Navaya watched in disbelief when his header from a clever Macheke delivery was punched for a corner kick by an alert Donovan.
Three minutes before the breather, Chicken Inn right back, Arthur Chinda, engaged in a breath-taking run before he went on to release a fine cross that Tulani failed to direct at goal. Ten minutes into the second half, Michael Charamba’s curling effort was saved by TelOne’s Tapiwa Chilenga. The hosts had won the free kick after Tulani was fouled just outside the box.
Seven minutes later, young Tinashe Mushaireni had his hard and low shot saved by Chilenga. To contain the pressure that was now coming from the home side, in the 65th minute, the Maruwa-led TelOne technical department made a double substitution. They brought in ex-Bulawayo Chiefs duo of Lucky Ndlela and Nkosiyabo Masilela for Gerald Bero and Milton Bero respectively.
In need of a goal, Gamecocks introduced veteran George Majika for Edward Musena in the 75th minute, only to watch in agony as they wasted their chances. Chicken Inn have accumulated nine points from nine games. On the other hand, the WiFi Boys have won three times, drawn four times, and been defeated twice.
Teams
Chicken Inn: D Bernard, A Chinda, K Mutenha (B Makopa 80 mins), J Tulani , X Ndlovu, D Jaricha, N Ketala, M Charamba, M Bhebhe, T Mushaireni (G Majika 75 mins), E Musena
TelOne: T Chilenga, W Navaya, A Dzumbunu, A Chapinduka, TvJaravani, T Macheke, B Mtigo, M Chiedza (Masilela 65mins) E Mafireka, G Bero (Ndlela 65 mins), L Murape
— @FungaiMuderere
