The Sunday Mail
Mukudzei Chingwere in Zvishavane
FC Platinum……………………………. 1
Chicken Inn……………………………. 2
Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas warmed up to his first Warriors assignment with a tactical masterstroke that saw his side down FC Platinum for the first time in four years in a Castle Lager Premiership match at Mandava.
Antipas will travel with the Warriors to Djibouti this week with a cool mindset, knowing that he left his club on firm ground to launch a serious title challenge.
Goals from Valentine Kandonzvo and Guide Goddard outweighed a solitary strike by Cameroonian Albert Eonde to ensure maximum points for Chicken Inn.
Yesterday’s win means the Gamecocks are now on top of the log with 38 points, two ahead of third placed FC Platinum who remained on 36.
The visitors seized control of the game from the onset.
Not even a genuine penalty appeal which was waved away could save the miners from defeat.
The narrow winning margin was not a true reflection of the match. The visitors should have won big had they been lucky to see two brilliantly taken efforts go in. However, these crashed against the woodwork.
At the end of a brilliant tour of duty, Antipas remained grounded and praised his men for a good game.
“We had a game plan, we did not want FC Platinum to start playing from the back so, we pressed high and I am happy it paid off.
“We are taking each game as it comes and we are not talking about the championship, we just need to remain focused and continue working hard.
“The strategy went on well and at the end of the match, we were just slowing down to maintain the players’ energy levels.”
“I will be leaving for the national team and remember, it is a part-time job, so I do not think it will affect the team,” said Antipas.
The visitors quickly showed they meant business and were unfortunate not to be awarded what looked like a clear penalty by referee Allen Basvi after Gift Bello slid and blocked Simon Munawa’s dive with his hand.
Twenty-six minutes into the game, the Gamecocks deservedly surged ahead after receiving a pass from livewire youth international, Obrey Chirinda.
Kandonzvo raced clear on the left, turned inside and fired home beyond Petros Mhari with a well-taken right footed shot.
Ten minutes before the breather, Chirinda left his markers for dead, before laying on the ball for Bret Amidu. However, the creative midfielder failed to punish his former paymasters when he crashed his effort against Mhari, instead of placing it beyond the goalkeeper.
After the breather, the visitors started from where they had left. Sipho Ndlovu received a back heel from Chirinda and responded with a thunderbolt that crashed against the upright.
Fifteen minutes from time, Goddard ensured full points for Antipas’ men when he met Kandonzvo’s corner with a powerful header to secure the lead.
A minute later, the miners were at sea again, allowing Chirinda to turn inside the box before picking his spot. However, his placed effort crashed against the crossbar.
Eonde then scored what proved to be a consolation after 81 minutes, when he completed a move initiated by Perfect Chikwende.
FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza conceded that his men came second best against the inspired visitors.
“We had our chances in the first half but we gave away possession and went on to concede. That was the same thing in Hwange, we lost possession and went on to concede a penalty.
“We tried in the second half but failed. Congratulations to Chicken Inn, they did well.
“We cannot talk of fatigue because like us, Chicken Inn played three games in one week. So, if I talk about fatigue, it is like I am hiding from what happened today.
“We lost the game and we just need to regroup, rectify our problems and move on,” said Mapeza.
