HWANGE and Chicken Inn continued to find the going tough in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League with trouble seemingly brewing after losing their respective games played at the weekend.
Report by Sukuluhle Mthethwa
Chicken Inn lost 2-1 to Harare City in the capital on Saturday while an own goal by Hwange captain Gerald Ndlovu sealed a home defeat for Hwange against Triangle at the Colliery on Sunday.
Hwange are on position 14 on the log table with seven points from eight games with only one win, four draws and with three losses while Chicken Inn are on position eight with 10 points from three wins, one draw and four losses. Chicken Inn, winners of the Net One Charity Shield, had started off the season on a good note beating Triangle 2-1 at Luveve Stadium before holding defending champions Dynamos to a 1-1 draw in Harare.
The Innscor-sponsored food outlet team was to collect another three points in the 1-0 win courtesy of a Tendai Ndoro strike before suffering their first defeat losing 2-1 to FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium. Monomotapa stunned the Mandla Mpofu-coached side 3-2 in the next league match before Chicken Inn lost 2-1 to Hwange at the Colliery.
Ndoro’s goal ensured Chicken Inn victory against Caps United at home until Saturday’s defeat.
Hwange opened up their account with a goalless draw with Motor Action in Harare and were held again to a 1-1 draw by league returnees Black Rhinos at the Colliery. The third game saw Hwange being thumped 4-2 by Buffaloes before they played to a 1-1 draw with How Mine at home.
Hwange again lost 1-0 to Black Mambas away before collecting maximum points against Chicken Inn. Nation Dube and his charges collected a point in a goalless draw with Shabanie at Maglas Stadium last Wednesday before the home defeat to Triangle. Last season Hwange struggled and had to fight relegation to the end while the Gamecox finished the season in third position on the log standings.
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Early this year, Hwange lost several players including goalkeeper Petros Mhari, Winston Mhango, Thonisani Sibelo, Ocean Mpofu, Tawanda Mareya and Francisco Zvikumbawire during the off-season period. Chicken Inn retained most of the players and added Mkhokheli Dube, Brian Juru, Richard Jongwe and Cabby Kamhapa.
While Hwange and Chicken Inn were on the losing end, Highlanders assumed the league log table after dismissing Buffaloes 3-0 at Barbourfields Stadium while FC Platinum also continued with their winning ways beating Tripple B 1-0 at Mandava on Saturday. Tripple B are also struggling on position 13 with eight points from eight games while How Mine moved up to fourth spot after beating Black Rhinos 2-1 in Harare on Sunday.
