Chicken Inn make slice of history
By Langton Nyakwenda
CHICKEN INN penned a new chapter in the history of Zimbabwean football when they clinched the league title with a game to spare after thumping Harare City 3-1 at Luveve yesterday.
Goals from George Majika, Tafadzwa Kutinyu and Michelle Katsvairo propelled the Gamecocks to an unassailable 58 points after closest rivals FC Platinum, who are now on 54 points, were held to a 1-1 draw by Caps United at Mandava.
Talent Chawapiwa scored Harare City’s only goal with a stinging left footer but that was not enough to stop Chicken Inn from ending Dynamos’ dominance which stretched back to 2011.
The Gamecocks also became the first team from outside Harare to win the league title since 2006 when Highlanders won it.
They join Motor Action, Gunners, Monomotapa and Amazulu as the only other clubs to have won the league title apart from the big three of Dynamos, Highlanders and Caps United since the inception of the Premiership in 1993.
Joey Antipas and his boys lifted the championship in style, turning on the power against a formidable Harare City, just when everybody thought they were choking after registering three consecutive draws prior to yesterday’s clash.
Two quick goals inside the first 20 minutes must have been a start Antipas had prayed for, although the veteran gaffer will have City keeper Maxwell Nyamupangedengu to thank for an unexpected gift.
Nyamupangedengu failed to deal with Majika’s miscued cross and watched haplessly as it found the target off the upright post on 13 minutes. Five minutes later, another Nyamupangedengu howler gifted Chicken Inn their second goal, with Kutinyu capitalising on a mix-up between the keeper and Munyaradzi Diro to slot home.
Harare City pulled one back in the 29th minute through deadly winger Chawapiwa as the visitors seized control of the game but Antipas displayed his shrewdness in the second stanza when he played five at the back, in an express statement that he wanted to close shop.
The plan worked well for Antipas before Katsvairo put the matter beyond City’s jurisdiction seven minutes from time when he curled the ball home after being set up by a lively Edmore Chirambadare.
When experienced referee Thabani Bamala blew the final whistle in the 92nd minute, Chicken Inn players and technical staff paused a bit as they awaited confirmation of results from Mandava.
When it came, they broke into wild celebrations, Antipas was hoisted into the air and their small band of fans invaded the pitch.
City coach Taurai Mangwiro admitted Chicken Inn came fired up for the encounter.
“You do not concede those soft goals to a team that is high on confidence like Chicken Inn, you get punished,” he said.
Teams
Chicken Inn: E. Chipezeze, P. Bernard, E. Chirambadare, T. Kutinyu (M. Jackson 75), D. Phiri, M. Katsvairo, C. Matawu, B. Mbiriri, L. Mhlanga, B. Nyanhunzvi, G. Majika (T. Goredema 55)
Harare City: M. Nyamupangedengu, M. Diro, G. Chimwemwe, D. Kutyauripo (M. Vengesayi 58), T. Ndlovu, T. Samanja, J. Jam, W. Manondo, T. Chawapiwa, K. Kumwala, F. Zekumbawire (N. Ziwini 84). The Sunday Mail
