Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere at Luveve Stadium
Chicken Inn 0-1 Simba Bhora
DETERMINED Castle Lager Premier Soccer League (PSL) reigning champions, Simba Bhora, managed to break their two-year Luveve Stadium jinx when they edged hosts Chicken Inn 1-0, to collect maximum points.
In a match that was witnessed by an appreciative crowd, the visitors got their all-important goal soon after the start of the second half when a brilliant Isakar Guribab, curled his effort from inside the box to beat a diving Donovan Bernard.
It was a sweet victory for the Go Buju-Go Boys, who are under the guidance of ex-Warriors and Highlanders player, Joel Luphahla.
“We knew coming here was going to be difficult. There were a lot of expectations and Chicken Inn did not make it easy for us. Football is a pressure game, it’s my first time to a head coach and prior to this match, the club president made it clear that we needed to win this match since Simba Bhora had not beaten Chicken Inn at Luveve Stadium.
“He also mentioned that we are the defending champions, and we need to collect three points of which we did. I’m happy we managed to break the jinx. However, I will stay calm,” said Luphahla.
Last season, Chicken Inn beat Simba Bhora 3-2 at Luveve Stadium and in the reverse fixture the latter prevailed over the former at home. In 2023, Gamecocks edged the Shamva-based side 1-0 both in Bulawayo and at their home turf.
Luphahla’s opposite number, Joey Antipas conceded that they fell to a superior side.
“We were beaten by a better side, they have quality and seasoned players. Our plan didn’t work out well. We gave away an easy early goal in the second half. It’s part of the game, you win and lose some. I thought we had done well in the earlier stages of the match, and I think when Muza (Brian) who was leading our attack came off we fizzled out.
Also, we had some players who were out due to various circumstances,” said Antipas.
Simba Bhora controlled most of the proceedings with Chicken Inn failing to register a shot on target throughout the entire match. The first shot on target of the first half came in the 25th minute when Emmanuel Ziocha came close to putting Simba Bhora in front with a long range shot but the Gamecocks’ goalkeeper, Donovan Bernard was equal to the task, punching the effort away to safety.
Simba Bhora came close again in the 33rd minute with Carlos Mavhurume attempting a long range shot but his effort went wide. Moments later, Joseph Tulani of Gamecocks had his effort from inside the box miss the target by a whisker.
At the stroke of half time, Simba Bhora got a free kick in a promising position on the edge of the box, but Blessing Moyo’s effort went over the bar.
In the 46th minute, Guribab capitalised on lack of concentration from the Gamecocks defenders to punish them.
Ten minutes into the second half, Brighton Makopa wasted a good chance after receiving a brilliant cross from Xolani Ndlovu. Makopa’s flick from inside the box went over the bar. A few minutes later, Ziocha put in a defence splitting pass to find Guribab who, however, failed to beat Bernard on a one versus one situation.
Chicken Inn continued their quest for the equaliser but failed to find the back of the net, with their efforts going either wide or over the bar.
This was the Gamecocks’ second defeat of the season.
Teams
Chicken Inn: Donovan Bernard (gk), Arthur Chinda, Mpumelelo Bhebhe, Joseph Tulani, Xolani Ndlovu, Dominic Jaricha (Kumbirai Mutenha, 60mins), Itai Mabhunu, Michael Charamba (Elshamar Farasi, 73mins), Brighton Makopa (Nelson Ketala, 73mins), Brian Muza (Brendon Rendo, 46mins).
Simba Bhora: William Thole (gk), Webster Tafa, Ishaenesu Mauchi, Tinotenda Meke (Carlos Makambira, 73mins), Blessing Moyo, Roland Kangadzi, Blessed Ndereki (Never Tigere, 85 mins), Junior Makunike (Trevor Mavhunga, 73 mins), Emmanuel Ziocha (Donald Mudadi, 85mins), Isakar Gurirab (William Manondo, 85 mins), Carlos Mavhurume. — @FungaiMuderere.
derick.khumalo