Chicken Inn not yet out

By The Standard | Oct. 20, 2017 | 3 Min read

CHICKEN INN are refusing to disappear from the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title matrix and their win yesterday against a sinking Harare City, coupled with two of their rivals dropping points on Wednesday, has put them firmly back in the hunt.

Having collected just a point from their previous four matches, it looked like Rahman Gumbo’s team had slipped out of contention, yet the twists and turns in the last 48 hours have hauled them back with a good chance, more so considering that they still have to play both Ngezi Platinum Stars and Dynamos.

With the win yesterday, Chicken Inn moved to 55 points, four shy of log leaders FC Platinum, three behind Dynamos and two adrift of Ngezi Platinum Stars.

It will be a tough task for them to climb up all the way to the top, but they still have a chance.

Chicken Inn bounced back to winning ways to close the gap on the log leaders after they beat visting Harare City in a league match at Luveve Stadium yesterday.

A goal in each half by Passmore Bernard and Obadiah Tarumbwa helped Chicken Inn outshine the Sunshine City Boys, who sit precariously on position 15 on 34 points with five games to the end of the season.

A short corner in the 35th minute benefited Bernard, whose shot deflected off defender Edwin Madhanhanga eluding goalkeeper Tatenda Munditi as Chicken Inn dominated play in the first half.

They continued with their onslaught into the second half and Tarumbwa scored the winner 10 minutes after the break after he was sent through by George Majika.

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Harare City picked up their game in the last 15 minutes and they were rewarded two minutes before the final whistle through Wilfred Muvirimi who got their face-saver.

Chicken Inn head coach Gumbo was adamant they were still in the championship race despite the bad patch before yesterday’s victory.

“It was good to taste victory after some bad weekends. We are still in contention for the championship, which is good for the team. The boys were enjoying themselves more than anything. Our minds are still set on the championship,” Gumbo said.

It was not a good display by Harare City after their demolition of Bantu Rovers in their last game, probably eyeing the Chibuku Super Cup semi-final clash against Bulawayo City on Sunday at Barbourfields Stadium.

Coach Philani Ncube expressed confidence that they would survive relegation.

“We did not come to the party. We only played in the last 10 minutes, but we are not pressing the panic button at the moment. We will survive. We just have to take each game as it comes,” he said.

Teams

Chicken Inn: P Zendera, P Bernard, D Lunga, T Goredema, M Jackson, C Matawu, B Nyahunzvi, C Samakweri, G Majika (I Lawe 81′), D Nyandoro (B Sibanda 52′), O Tarumbwa (I Mucheneka 70′)

Harare City: T Munditi, T Samanja, H Chapusha, M Vengesai, W Ndiweni (P Mpelele 50′), R Uchena, E Madhanhanga, W Manondo (T Balakasi 80′), T Chimwemwe, W Muvirimi, P Kabwe (L Muyambo 57′)