Online Reporter
Chicken Inn 0 – 0 TelOne, Fungai Muderere at Luveve Stadium
CHICKEN Inn’s title hopes continue to wobble after recording their sixth draw of the season — this time a goalless stalemate at home against a spirited TelOne side in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League clash on Wednesday.
The Gamecocks, now nine points from nine games, struggled to convert their chances in a match full of near misses, fluffed finishes, and keeper heroics.
TelOne, captained by red-hot striker Washington Navaya, looked the more dangerous in the first half. Navaya, the league’s top scorer with seven goals, led the visitors’ attack with menace, combining well with Milton Chiedza and Tawanda Macheke.
In the 21st minute, Navaya almost broke the deadlock, forcing Chicken Inn goalie Donovan Bernard to tip his shot out for a corner. Moments later, the lethal striker saw his powerful header from a Macheke cross punched away again by Bernard.
The Gamecocks had their moments too. Right-back Arthur Chinda dazzled with a solo run but Joseph Tulani couldn’t convert the resulting cross. Michael Charamba and youngster Tinashe Mushaireni came close in the second half, only to be denied by an alert Tapiwa Chilenga in the TelOne goal.
In a tactical shuffle, TelOne coach Herbert Maruwa brought in the ex-Bulawayo Chiefs pair of Lucky Ndlela and Nkosiyabo Masilela to steady the ship as Chicken Inn pushed for a winner.
Veteran George Majika was thrown into the fray late on by Chicken Inn, but it was all in vain — the net remained untouched.
TelOne now sit with three wins, four draws, and two losses — while Chicken Inn fans are starting to lose patience with their team’s inability to kill off games.
Teams:
Chicken Inn: D Bernard, A Chinda, K Mutenha (Makopa 80’), J Tulani, X Ndlovu, D Jaricha, N Ketala, M Charamba, M Bhebhe, T Mushaireni (Majika 75’)
TelOne: T Chilenga, W Navaya, A Dzumbunu, A Chapinduka, T Jaravani, T Macheke, B Mtigo, M Chiedza (Masilela 65’), E Mafireka, G Bero (Ndlela 65’), L Murape
