The Sunday Mail
CHICKEN INN coach Joey Antipas vowed to continue piling the pressure on the two Platinum sides after his Gamecocks staged a dramatic comeback to win 2-1 against Yadah in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at the National Sports yesterday.
The third-placed Gamecocks are on 47 points – 11 behind FC Platinum who thrashed Mutare City 6-0 and four adrift of Ngezi Platinum Stars who play Highlanders this afternoon.
Veteran forward Darryl Nyandoro completed Chicken Inn’s comeback win in injury time with his fourth goal of the season.
That was after second half substitute Joel Nyabinde’s 77th minute hard and low strike had canceled out Yadah’s lead, which had come from Wilson Chakanyuka’s well-taken indirect free-kick in the 52nd minute.
“We are just hanging in there, to win a championship you have to win your games, you have to have luck on your side … so all we are doing is hanging in there, hopefully we can just put pressure on the top teams,” Antipas said.
“If (the top two teams) feel the pressure and we keep playing well, you never know, football is a crazy game so now we are not even thinking about the championship, we just think of accumulating points.”
At Rufaro, Mark Harrison was left a worried man after his Harare City played out a goalless draw against Herentals.
It was City’s 12th draw of the season and the Sunshine Boys now have the most number of stalemates in the league.
“We were in control of the game and it has been the story too many times this season where we have control of the game and have chances to get yourself in front but we don’t do it and make life difficult for ourselves.
“We did it again, we let Herentals off the hook and it is frustrating for the team but hopefully we will get it right,” said Harrison.
Harare City sit on 36 points while Herentals are four points further back on 10th position on the log.
In Gweru, resurgent Chapungu moved four points clear of the drop zone with an emphatic 3-0 win over Triangle at Ascot.
Nomadic midfielder Raphael Manuvire and Clive Rupiya scored in the opening four minutes before Allan Tavarwisa made it 3-0 from the spot after 21 minutes.
The Airmen moved to 28 points, four ahead of Nichrut who occupy the last relegation spot.
Triangle remained fourth with 41 points, 17 behind log leaders FC Platinum.
Shabanie Mine coach Alexio Sigion reckoned his side lost with dignity after the Chinda Boys fell 0-1 to ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga.
Benjamin Mukundu’s own goal condemned bottom placed Shabanie Mine to their fifth straight defeat.
“We lost with dignity, we have been losing by bigger margins but today (yesterday) it was better,” said Sigion. “At least there was hope, I think we can survive relegation if we maintain this form.”
ZPC Kariba coach Godfrey Tamirepi was not happy with how his charges wasted chances.
“We hope to improve in our next match against Ngezi Platinum Stars but the good thing is that we are climbing up the ladder,” said Tamirepi.
Meanwhile, Black Rhinos remain eighth on the log after they drew 1-1 with Bulawayo Chiefs at Luveve.
Allan Gahadzikwa scored for Rhinos in the 30th minute before Stanley Ngala equalised for Chiefs in the second half.
