The Sunday Mail
Funai Muderere in Bulawayo
Chicken Inn…………………(3) 3
Mushowani Stars………….(0) 1
JUDGING by yesterday’s result, there is more to Chicken Inn than just Clive Augusto.
This is not a team powered by an individual — who possesses a knack for scoring in almost in every game — but a mean machine assembled by the genius Joey Antipas.
Yesterday at Luveve in their triumph over Castle Lager Premier Soccer League newbies Mushowani Stars, Augusto, Sipho Ndlovu, Malvin Gaki, substitute Obriel Chirinda, Innocent Muchaneka and Tichaona Chipunza all produced five-star performances.
But in the end, it was only Augusto and Sipho who made it to the scoresheet, with the former scoring a brace, while the latter added the other one in Chicken Inn’s 3-1 win.
Augusto took his goal tally to 13 from 13 games.
He scored the Gamecocks’ first goal of the match in the 17th minute after converting it from the spot.
The hosts were awarded a penalty after Clive Dzingayi was adjudged for handling an inviting Gaki cross.
In the 32nd minute, Ndlovu made it two for Antipas’ charges after perfectly heading home a Passmore Bernard cross.
Seven minutes later, Augusto completed his brace after Gaki’s well taken effort towards goal was blocked and fell onto his feet. He easily slotted it home.
Six minutes after the breather, referee of the afternoon Happy Mabhena awarded Chicken Inn a second spot kick and Augusto stepped up again.
Unfortunately, his effort went over the crossbar with Admire Masuku, who was between the sticks for the visitors, beaten.
Stars pulled one goal back in the 89th minute courtesy of a well taken volley by exciting dreadlocked striker Evans Katema.
“We were very much explosive in the first half,” said Antipas.
“We played with a good tempo but in the second half we took our foot off the pedal.
“Hopefully we can learn to play well for the entire 90 minutes in the weeks to come.
“However, credit goes to Mushowani for not giving up,” said the gaffer, whose side remains on position two with 29 points, one behind FC Platinum.
Mushowani Stars head coach Newman Mashipe reckoned poor preparations saw them lose the match.
“It’s very disappointing that we lost. We lost the game in the first half and I must say we didn’t adequately prepare for the match.
“We travelled late and we did not even know that the game had a kick-off of 2pm.
“Our players did not have a proper warm-up and lost to a side that we gave too much space and respect,” said Mashipe
