The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda in Ngezi
Chicken Inn………… (1) 1
Ngezi Platinum Stars ..(2) 2
TALENTED midfielder Denver Mukamba scored his fifth goal of the tournament as Ngezi Platinum Stars cruised into the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals at Baobab Stadium in Mhondoro yesterday.
The dazzling star fired home a brilliant 17th minute free-kick to cancel out Brian Muza’s eighth minute goal for Chicken Inn.
Nyasha Chintuli then headed home a fine cross from Bruno Mtigo, seven minutes from half-time to seal the win for Ngezi.
The Mhondoro miners, however, had a subdued second half as their defensive frailties were exposed by a Chicken Inn attack that was spearheaded by the workaholic Muza.
The Gamecocks had a number of good chances in the second stanza to come back and possibly snatch victory, which they failed to convert.
They also had a goal disallowed early in the second half when Muza used his hand to turn the ball into the net. Obriel Chirinda was also a culprit in a few instances.
Muza, who has two goals in this tournament, failed to tap in a cross from Passmore Bernard in the 70th minute.
Despite blowing hot and cold, the red hot Mukamba was once again the main actor and some Chicken Inn players lined up to have pictures taken with local football’s man of the moment.
“There is no bad win, the most important thing is that we are now in the semis,” said Mukamba.
This is a third semi-final berth in this tournament for Ngezi who won the trophy in their debut Premiership season in 2016.
They lost the 2019 final against Highlanders at Barbourfields.
“We worked hard as a team, the target is to go all the way and win the Chibuku Super Cup.
“The focus is now on the semi-final and as usual we will take each game as it comes,” said Mukamba.
He could have grabbed a brace in the 80th minute, but his curling shot was parried over by Donovan Bernard.
Mukamba, who described his goal off a fine set piece as “a piece of magic’’, also won the praise of Chicken Inn gaffer Joey Antipas for his goal and his influence in the Ngezi team.
“Credit to Denver for a brilliant set piece. He is a type of player who drifts in and out of the game. He is very dangerous when he drifts into the game and we had spoken about him prior to the game and I feel we didn’t put more pressure on him in the moments that he drifted into the game,’’ Antipas said.
The Gamecocks had a chance late on to even matters when Muza blazed his effort over the bar from close range in the 87th minute.
The two teams were meeting for the first time in the Chibuku Super Cup and it was Ngezi coach Rodwell Dhlakama who got the better of Antipas.
“They (Chicken Inn) came at us in the second half, its natural for a team that was searching for an equaliser,” said Dhlakama.
His side suffered a huge setback when veteran left back Qadr Amini suffered a knee injury in the 54th minute.
By that time Chicken Inn had seized control of the game with Ngezi having to rely on counter raids.
“If you don’t convert your chances you get punished,” Antipas said.
The former Warriors coach was, however, satisfied with his team’s overall performance as the Bulawayo side now shift their attention to the return of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, which kicks off on Saturday.
Chicken Inn have never progressed beyond the quarter-finals in the Chibuku Super Cup.
They have never beaten Ngezi in Mhondoro, but Dhlakama insisted it was not about home advantage as his side had won all, but one of their group games at Mandava, underlining their quality.
Antipas tried to rescue the game by introducing wingers George Majika and Malvin Gaki midway through the second half, but the move did not pay off.
Gaki was so dismal that he was hauled off 16 minutes later.
Antipas will also be happy with his backline which was well-marshalled by 40-year-old Moses Jackson.
Only a handful of fans who afforded the prohibitive US$20 entry charges watched the match.
Teams:
Chicken Inn: Donovan Bernard, Passmore Bernard, Brian Muza, Nielson Ketala, Moses Jackson, Shepard Mhlanga, Clive Dzingayi, Powell Govera, Bret Amidu (M. Gaki 63rd, Mtetiwa 89th) Leroy Ndlovu, Munashe Pini (G. Majika 63rd)
Ngezi Platinum Stars: Nelson Chadya, Kudzai Chigwida, Denver Mukamba (V. Kadonzvo 84th) Polite Moyo, Bruno Mtigo, Qadr Amini (W. Makuva 54th) Arter Kaseke, Anelka Chivandire (W. Taderera 64th) Marvellous Mukumba, Nyasha Chintuli, Devon Chafa (K. Murera 85th)
