The Sunday Mail
Senior Sports Reporter
Chicken Inn …………. (1) 1
Yadah FC ……………. (1) 1
CHICKEN Inn gaffer Joey Antipas feels his charges dropped two crucial points in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League after they were held to a draw by relegation threatened Yadah at Luveve Stadium yesterday. The Gamecocks, who have openly declared their championship ambitions, have gone for three consecutive games without posting a win. They went into their game against Yadah having been held to a goalless draw by TelOne and a 2-1 away defeat at the hands of ZPC Kariba. After yesterday’s draw, where Bret Amidu scored for the hosts through a beautiful header after connecting a Xolani Ndlovu curling cross in the 21st minute, Antipas’ men have collected just two points from a possible nine. Veteran Ralph Matema got the all-important equaliser for the visitors three minutes into the second stanza after the Guide Goddard and Moses Jackson-marshaled rearguard failed to deal with the danger lurking inside Chicken Inn’s box.
“It’s a disappointing result, especially after playing a team like Yadah at home. lts two points dropped and we seem to have fallen flat in the second half,” said a dissatisfied Antipas. He added, “Some players need to stand up and be counted. I thought some of our key players were not in it at all, and it also looks like we have lost some confidence. The team is not playing with confidence,” he said.
With a game in hand, Chicken Inn are now tied on 31 points with second placed Caps United who entertain Highlanders at National Sports Stadium this afternoon.
But despite picking up a valuable point, Yadah head coach Genesis Mangombe reckoned they still have to work hard if they are to avoid the dreaded chop.
Yadah are still second from bottom on the 18-team log. “It was difficult trying to win against a club like Chicken Inn. We minimised keeping the ball and at times we delayed the pace of the game. “We still have a long way to go in the fight to avoid relegation,” said Mangombe.
