adminSikhumbuzo Moyo in BULAWAYO
Chicken Inn…………………………(1) 2
FC Platinum……………………………..0
KUDA MAHACHI returned from a week-long trial stint with Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa to inspire Chicken Inn to a deserved win over FC Platinum in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League encounter at Luveve yesterday. Mahachi was involved in the home team’s opening goal which was scored from the penalty spot by the country’s leading marksman Tendai Ndoro who took his goal tally to 16 with his 22nd minute effort. Veteran Mkhokheli Dube was hacked down inside the box by FC Platinum central defender Daniel Veremu and referee Mlindeli Ndebele pointed to the spot before yellow carding the defender.
Up stepped Ndoro to bury his effort home even though ‘keeper Francis Tizayi dived the right side.
The home team continued to trouble the visitors with Mahachi running rings around his markers.
His switch of play was just marvelous to watch. It was FC Platinum who almost found a goal in the 35th minute but Tatenda Mudewe’s shot was saved by Liberty Chirava, in goals for the home team. Six minutes before the break, Mahachi, certain to be among the country’s 11 best players when selectors meet later this month, fooled Veremu and charged towards goal but his shot did not trouble Tizayi.
The second half saw FC Platinum coach Lloyd Mutasa making a double substitution, bringing in Nelson Maziwisa and Obrey Chirwa for Mudewe and Mitchelle Katsvairo in an effort to find the equaliser.
Chicken Inn, now under the guidance of Joey Antipas, never put their feet off the pedal and in the 49th minute an intelligent through ball from Mahachi found an on-rushing Ndoro whose first-time shot found Tizayi equal to the task.
Mutasa later brought in former Quelaton player, Mhleli Sibanda, for an out-of-sorts Donald Ngoma who failed to compliment the good work that was being done by Charles Sibanda, who was outstanding for the visitors. Now operating from the far right, Mahachi gave Elvis Moyo, the FC Platinum left back, all sorts of problems. The second goal came in the 63rd minute from a Mahachi moment of individual brilliance when he dribbled past three FC Platinum players before unleashing a shot from the edge of the box that gave Tizayi no chance at all. “Our plan was to disrupt our opponents in the midfield and I think it worked well. Mahachi was just superb while we welcome the fact that we did not concede,” said Antipas.
Mutasa conceded defeat and said his boys never really came to the party.
“We gave them a lot of unnecessary respect, the boys never came to the party at all,” said Mutasa.
Teams:
Chicken Inn: L Chirava, B Mbiriri, C Mutero, M Jackson, F Chindungwe, D Phiri, T Goredema, C Matawu (B Juru 80th minute), K Mahachi, T Ndoro ( T Chimenya 87th min), M Dube (L Nkomo 66th minute)
FC Platinum: F Tizayi, D Veremu, E Moyo, R Muduviwa, D Ngoma (M Sibanda 62nd minute), A Katebe, S Shoko, T Kamusoko, C Sibanda, T Mudewe (M Katsvairo 47th minute), N Maziwisa (O Chirwa 47th minute)
Online Reporter