Kaindu’s Triangle shoot to the top
RUSAPE – Triangle shot to the top of the Castle Lager Premiership after handing newboys Dongo Sawmill a 1-0 defeat at Vengere yesterday as Kelvin Kaindu’s men continued their impressive start to the season.
On their second visit to Vengere, in as many weeks, after being held to a draw by Buffaloes, Kaindu’s men got it right this time around as they powered to a priceless victory on the road to power to the top of the table.
The Zambian coach appears to have transformed his side, who struggled in the league last year, and after the first four league games, they now lead the marathon.
Richard Kawondera scored the all-important goal for Triangle and Dongo Sawmill have now lost their last three league matches, by a goal, against How Mine, Dynamos and Triangle.
The newboys started their life in the Premiership with an impressive 2-2 draw against FC Platinum in Zvishavane.
Kaindu’s former team, Highlanders, battled for a point in a goalless draw against Buffaloes at Sakubva yesterday.
Bosso have now taken seven points, from their last three games, after starting their campaign with a 0-2 defeat in Harare at the hands of ZPC Kariba.
While the point in Mutare, where Sakubva was hosting its first Premiership game this season, was a good one for coach Bongani Mafu, he will be concerned that, after four games into the season, none of his strikers has hit the target.
The forwards fired blanks against ZPC Kariba, Tsholotsho, Hwange and Buffaloes, who conceded five goals in their last outing against the Kariba side at Gwanzura.
Buffaloes have now picked two points from their first two matches at home. Newboys Tsholotsho also battled their way to a 1-1 draw in their match against Hwange and they have now picked four points from their first four games of the season — not bad for a team that is playing its home matches away in Bulawayo.
A brace by Premiership rookie forward Edmore Chirambadare propelled Chicken Inn to their second win in three days and in the process condemn Whawha to an away 0-2 loss. Chirambadare, acquired from Tsholotsho, struck with two priceless goals in the 14th and 49th minutes that helped the GameCocks to maintain a perfect home record.
Chicken Inn could have won by, at least, three goals but for a 28th minute penalty miss by skipper Danny Phiri.
“The scoreline does not really give a true reflection of what was actually happening on the field of play, we totally dominated Whawha and we should have won by a much wider margin but I am happy with the three points,” said Chicken Inn coach Joe Antipas.
Playing like a veteran, Chirambadare was always a thorn in the flesh for the visitors and it was from one of his runs that Whawha conceded a penalty which was to be missed by Phiri.
With a goal down, Whawha made an early second half substitution, taking out Takudzwa Jukulile, the son of former Warriors striker and Whawha assistant coach Luke Petros. He was replaced by Simba Zimora who, however, could do little to change the complexion of the game.
Had it not been for the industry of Marshal Machazane in the central defence, the Zimbabwe Correctional Services outfit could have lost the match by a wider margin.
“We conceded two soft balls and we were never really aggressive enough. We need to work on that and I am still positive that come end of the season, Whawha will not be one of the teams bidding farewell to the Premier League,” said Whawha technical director Lloyd Mutasa.
Teams
Chicken Inn: E Chipezeze, J Moses, G Majika (T Banda 63rd min), D Phiri, M Kastvairo (M Dube 82nd min), P Bernard, E Chirambadare, T Kutinyu, C Matawu (C Nkomo 87th min), L Mhlanga
Whawha: M Wurayayi, M Machazane, J Kanono, G Kwaramba, L Genti, G Saunyama, T Jukulile (S Zimora (46th min), M Nyalabangwe, A Matewu, N Bude (C Kapupurika 59th min) , K Bhuka (m Silinda 65th min)
