MAFERO PRAISES BIKITA DEFENCE

Fungai Muderere

AFTER watching his new-look side Chicken Inn squander a lot of chances against Bikita Minerals at Luveve on Saturday, coach Joey Antipas praised the miners’ defence for standing resolute throughout the match.

Led by their captain Xolani “Lolo” Ndlovu, hard running striker Brian Muza, skillful new signings Miguel Fieldman, Tadiwa Muchenje and Tinashe Mushaireni, the Gamecocks looked poised to post a rugby score-line against the visitors.

However, they were denied their first full set of points by a well-organised Bikita Minerals defence in which goalkeeper, Tawanda Dendera, was at his best.

“I’m very happy with the way we played. It was a great team performance. We created numerous chances but we could not bury our chances.

“I would like to commend the Bikita Minerals defence. They really played well. We could have scored many goals but they played very well.

“We took the point but we needed more,” said Antipas.

The Gamecocks recently engaged in a new player recruitment exercise that saw them part ways with their former captain Danny “Deco” Phiri, goalminder Pride Zendera and striker Malvin Hwata.

Among the seven new Gamecocks arrivals are ‘keeper Aaron “Arusha” Ngwenya, Kumbirai Nyamutenha, Tinashe Mashaineri, Edward Musena, Walter Vuwa and Vincent Mugande.

Bikita Minerals coach Wilson Mutekede was pleased with his team’s performance.

“It’s the beginning of the season, we are still getting to understand each other and trying to make the combinations.

“We are happy to have probably grabbed a point. We managed to diffuse our opponents.”